WENGER: NO REGRET OVER FABREGAS' MOVE TO CHELSEA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said there are no hard feelings over former captain Cesc Fabregas' move to Chelsea this summer.

The 27-year-old Spain midfielder made an impressive Premier League debut for London rivals Chelsea as they won 3-1 at Burnley on Monday.

Arsenal had a buy-back option on Fabregas, who left for Barcelona in 2011, but decided not to exercise it.
Fabregas, who played 305 games for the Gunners, eventually joined Chelsea on a five-year deal, ending his three-year stay at Barca.


Fabregas made an impressive Premier League debut for Chelsea as they won 3-1 at Burnley on Monday

The one-time Gunners hero departed north London to rejoin boyhood team Barcelona in 2011 but struggled to nail down a first-team place before being sold to the Blues in July.

Fabregas played his first competitive match for Jose Mourinho's side on Monday, setting up two goals in a 3-1 Premier League victory over Burnley, but the Frenchman insists he does not regret missing out on his old player.

"I have no regrets that Fabregas [joined Chelsea]," Wenger told reporters.

"My only regret is that he left us in the first place."

Arsenal have a well-stocked midfield even without Fabregas, with few players in the top flight drawing as much praise as Aaron Ramsey over the past 12 months, and Wenger is excited about the Welshman's progress.

Wenger believes Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 23, is more than filling the void left by Fabregas.

"What is good in life is that someone moves out and someone else takes over and he has developed," he said. "He is younger than Cesc and the potential is there to get more out of him."

Wenger added that Ramsey's dismissal during Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Besiktas and an ankle injury suffered by captain Mikel Arteta in the same game had left him considering a move for a defensive midfielder.

Wenger admits he does not know how long Arteta will be sidelined, adding: "He had a scan on Wednesday afternoon. I haven't got the result... I don't know how long he will be out for. We will be a bit short, of course.

"If it is a long-term injury, that puts us in a position where we have to be creative.

"We are open as well to any opportunity, until the end of the transfer window, who can strengthen our defensive department in quality and number."

Arsenal expect to be boosted this weekend by the return of their trio of German World Cup winners, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil.