Cesc Fabregas returned to Arsenal on Wednesday evening as Como played out a 1-1 friendly draw with the Premier League champions
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas has huge admiration for Arsenal's young players and the Hale End academy
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Cesc Fabregas has told Arsenal he'd be willing to lend a hand if they needed Como to develop any of their young players.
The World Cup winner was speaking after Como's 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium in which young Gunners Max Dowman and Marli Salmon both caught the eye.
Fabregas knows what it's like to come through the ranks at the club and was quizzed for his assessment of both teenagers, to which he replied: "It's amazing. It's amazing because that's what it's all about. You know, Hale End does an amazing job.
"There are a lot of talents but if you don't play these talents, if you don't give trust to these talents, these talents get lost in the process along the way.
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"It's a big shame you know, so really, I had the chance to say 'well done' to them but keep going, keep going, keep pushing yourselves because it's a big and long career full of ups and downs.
"They need to accept that not everything will be easy; they need to compete. They play for one of the best clubs and teams in the world now - even with Max, with the talent that he's got, you know, it's a challenge.
"It's not easy to play at Arsenal because you're challenging, you're playing in your position against some of the best players in the world. So, really good. Really good. And erm, if they want to give us some players as well, we can take them!"
Dowman is pushing to start the Community Shield and potentially the first game of the new Premier League season against Coventry City as Bukayo Saka is yet to return to action following the World Cup. Noni Madueke has also been resting.
Marli Salmon and Max Dowman
Marli Salmon and Max Dowman have both made an impression for Arsenal throughout pre-season
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Fresh-faced defender Salmon has made a real impression during pre-season. Mikel Arteta feels he's shown he is ready to compete for more minutes, stating: "He’s in and around the first team.
"The circumstances are what they are, that is the context that is allowing him to play more minutes. If we had other players available it would be more difficult, but that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t get the chance to do so.
"But what he’s proven in the last few weeks is that he’s reliable, and when we want to play him, he can do a job."
Salmon will not be going on loan and Arsenal plan to keep him until at least January, when his short-term future could be reassessed depending on opportunities.
He is rated really highly by Arsenal and the club's coaching staff after making his senior debut at 16 years and 103 days last December away to Club Brugge in the Champions League.
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