LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his former player Cesc Fabregas deserves a respectful welcome from Gunners supporters when he lines up against them for the first time in Chelsea colours at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Wenger confirmed once again that he turned down the chance to re-sign Fabregas when it became evident that he was leaving Barcelona last summer, yet he was eager to encourage Arsenal supporters to refrain from jeering their club's former captain despite his move to their London rivals.
"He deserves a respectful welcome [from Arsenal fans]. Everyone respects Cesc here. I want him to get the welcome he deserves," stated Wenger, before he was asked who made the decision on Fabregas making the move to Chelsea.
"Cesc Fabregas made the decision. When he left, we bought [Mesut] Ozil to have an offensive player. We have [Santi] Cazorla, we have [Jack] Wilshere, we have [Aaron] Ramsey, we have [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain. We were not in the need to buy any offensive players.
"It makes sense if you look at the balance of the team. That is a decision that is easy to understand."
Wenger dismissed suggestions that his relationship with Fabregas broke down in his final few months at Arsenal, as he offered up a warm tribute to the player he moulded into a Premier League star.
"I have no animosity towards Cesc Fabregas," he continued. "He is a person I love and a player I love. After he left us, we are all professional people and we have to respect that.
"The relationship had not broken down. Cesc Fabregas will have a great career because he is a great player. When he will look back in his career, he will find that Arsenal and myself had a very positive influence on his career, he cannot dispute that. After that, I hope that for every single person in the world that we had a positive influence and he had a great career."
Wenger stated his belief Fabregas would have preferred to return to Arsenal rather than sign for Chelsea, but he offered a polite response as he suggested the transfer was sealed long before it was confirmed by the Stamford Bridge club.
"I don't want to make a big story of that," he said of Fabregas' desire to make a Gunners comeback.
"It was the first separation [that] was difficult for us. After he went to Barcelona, he can go anywhere. I personally feel that deal was done a long time ago, early in 2014. All the other speculation was just made up.
"Instinct tells me it was [a deal] done a long time ago. I explained why it was not a subject for us. We were looking for up front and defensive opportunities. We had enough midfielders, we have many.
"I didn't speak to him [Fabregas] directly in the summer. I was informed he might go to Chelsea, but when I was informed, the deal was already done. Everyone has a freedom to go where they want."
Wenger went on to offer up fulsome praise for the performances of Chelsea striker Diego Costa since his arrival in the Premier League this season, as he prepares to try and nullify the free-scoring Spain international this weekend.
"You feel he is a killer this guy, he has that in him," added Wenger of Costa. "He has done fantastically well. I must say I'm impressed by how he has done. All the aspects of a striker you like. He is focused, always determined, ready for a fight. I'm impressed by him.
"Coming from outside, he has done well. I cannot remember a player who has adapted like that. He has players who can feed him: Cesc, Eden Hazard. He is a very efficient player. The timing of his runs and his killing determination."
Wenger confirmed defender Nacho Monreal may return to his squad for the Chelsea game after a spell in the treatment room, while he dismissed reports that midfielder Aaron Ramsey may miss most of the rest of 2014 and insisted he expects him to be back in three to four weeks.
Meanwhile, wingers Serge Gnabry and Theo Walcott are expected to return to full first-team training next week though both players will have to wait until after the international break to make their comebacks.
"Yes, they come back next week to the full squad for training -- but they are too short for Sunday of course," Wenger confirmed.
Wenger on Ramsey: "I've been told he could be out for three to four weeks, so I count four" #CFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/Th7SFAumNu
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 3, 2014