Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has maintained that he is happy to remain with the Gunners for the time being and that the club still has everything he would need, everything except for a “winning mentality” that he criticised for being responsible for the lack of silverware during his time with the club.

Fabregas wanted to leave the Gunners for La Liga champions Barcelona during the summer but was rejected by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The midfielder decided to obey the Frenchman but is clearly still hoping to return to his boyhood club in the future.

Barcelona had offered €40 million for the Spanish playmaker but despite attempts to establish relations with the Gunners after spinning a media campaign to force their hand, Wenger refused to accept the olive branch and blocked all possible routes to negotiations.

However, Fabregas has maintained that he was not wrong to have asked for a transfer as it was his dream to play for his boyhood club – a feat he did not manage to achieve before leaving for Arsenal as a teenager.

”I maintain that I was right because (to play for Barcelona) is a dream I’ve had since childhood,” Fabregas told radio station Cadena Cope.

To Arsenal supporters’ relief, their captain also insisted that he would still be happy with the Premier League club, although his body language this season so far beyond the pitch has been anything but that. Fabregas also made it clear that his allegiance was with Wenger whom he treats as a “second father” and not the club.

”The truth is that the coach (Wenger) is like a second father to me,” said Fabregas. ”I told him what I thought. There were difficult moments. In the end, when I spoke to Wenger he told me no – he was very emphatic, that the transfer was impossible.

”I’m satisfied for all parties. It wasn’t to be and that’s that, though in my head I keep thinking it could have been a good opportunity. But here (at Arsenal) I have everything. I’m still happy. I’m very comfortable here, I like the club, lead the team, play football. We just need to start winning titles because we have a wealth of quality. A winning mentality is missing.”

Tags: Arsenal, Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, English Premier League, La Liga, transfer news