The Young Master

It is becoming extremely difficult, if not impossible, to do justice to Cesc Fabregas in mere words. Difficult to believe that he really is still a teenager. Difficult to comprehend that at his age he is capable of such composure, such vision, such maturity.

There is no risk whatsoever, even at this early stage, in proclaiming the boy a genius. And at a club which has Thierry Henry, and until recently had Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires, genius has not been in short supply.

He is so gifted technically, so committed and so intelligent, that further improvement is inevitable. Only the extent of it is unknown.

For Arsenal it is a delicious prospect. For others it is already frightening.