Arsenal did the right thing snubbing Cesc Fabregas last summer and allowing him to join rivals Chelsea, according to former Gunner Martin Keown.
The retired centre-back thinks boss Arsene Wenger decided not to take back the Spaniard because it would have meant no place in the team for Aaron Ramsey.
The Welshman was Arsenal’s standout player last term and Wenger did not want to see his progress stunted, Keown claims.
After moving back to his boyhood club Barca, Keown says that Fabregas can have no complaints about being overlooked for a return to the Emirates.
“If he had brought in Fabregas, that would have curtailed the development of Ramsey, who was the standout player of last season,” he told the Mail.
“I don’t think it would have necessarily benefited Arsenal – that area in central midfield is very congested. It was time for the club and the player to move on.
“He left to join his boyhood club and most let him leave with their blessing. Yes it was a surprise he went to Chelsea as they were rivals, though I think the criticism can be harsh.”
Fabregas started his Blues career in fine form having assisted 11 goals in his first 15 games of the season as Jose Mourinho’s men were being talked about as potential invincibles.
But the £30m signing from Barcelona has tailed off since then but still has the most number of assists in the Premier League this season.
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