Cesc Fabregas played for the two London clubs, distinctly having more success after returning to the Premier League to represent Chelsea
Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea holds the Arsenal shirt of Mesut Ozil up against his chest after they swap shirts at the end of the match.
Cesc Fabregas has differing loyalties in the Arsenal-Chelsea debate(Image: AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Cesc Fabregas admitted he loved the success he found at Chelsea but will continue to remain loyal to Arsenal. As both clubs gear up for another heated London match-up, Fabregas has been coy about which stand he'd sit in for the clash.
The former midfielder spent time at the two London clubs during his career, joining Arsenal first as a teenager. The Spaniard spent eight years in north London after swapping Barcelona's youth squad for the Gunners in 2003.
Despite his lengthy tenure and promotion to club captain in 2008, Fabregas won only the FA Cup and the Community Shield. In comparison, the midfielder joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014 and spent five years in blue, winning much more silverware.
This includes two Premier League titles, the League and FA Cup as well as the Europa League. During an interview with The Telegraph in 2020, Fabregas claimed he has equal love for both sides of the divide.
"My heart belongs to both clubs," he said. "I know it sounds politically correct, but it really is what I feel. When I was with Arsenal I never believed I could feel what I felt towards Chelsea. It was impossible. But this is the beauty of football."
However, previous comments have shown just where his loyalties lie in the Arsenal-Chelsea debate. Speaking on the Arseblog podcast, Fabregas claimed he will remain a loyal Gunner.
He said: "Every game I played for Arsenal was very special. The club meant everything to me. I remember the day I joined like it was yesterday.
"I didn't have a chance to say 'bye' but thank you for everything you did for me. I have you all [the fans in my heart]."
Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal celebrates at full time aftre the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal on September 15, 2007 in London, England.
Fabregas spent eight years at Arsenal, eventually captaining the side(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Speaking at the time of his Arsenal exit nine years ago, Fabregas added: "I was just a servant and spent eight years there when I gave absolutely everything. It didn't show in the cabinet, I only won one FA Cup really, and this is the biggest regret I will have in my career, probably, not to be able to lift a trophy as Arsenal captain.
"I will always be an Arsenal fan because what they have done for me is unbelievable and I will never forget it."
Fabregas has confessed that fans wouldn't understand the loyalty divide that he faces between Arsenal and Chelsea. While he remains an Arsenal fan, the 38-year-old is aware of the success he had at the Blues and believes it was his best career decision.
Fabregas said: "Even if I want to say I’m the biggest Arsenal fan, which I will always be forever, I cannot say I am completely loyal from a fans’ perspective because I went to Chelsea. It was my opportunity as a football player, as a professional.
Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea acknowledges the fans after the FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on January 5, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.
The Spaniard did enjoy his Chelsea tenure from a professional perspective(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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"But when I took that chance, I never thought I would be so happy there, that I would be so successful and that I would have so much appreciation and feeling with their fans. So now I support both clubs equally.
"When I was at Arsenal, I felt so completely in love with that club. From the start, when I was training and made my debut with the ‘Invincibles’. There was something inside of me that was impossible to ever go away because I probably had the best years of my life there.
"But being at Chelsea is something that I will never regret in my life; in fact completely the opposite. I will always talk about Chelsea and about my time at Chelsea as probably the best decision of my career."
He added: "Sometimes it’s difficult to change people’s opinion. I did what I did and I gave my all. If someone saw it, it’s great and if someone didn’t, then it’s a shame and I feel bad because first of all they believe I could have done better.
"But maybe it’s not even about football. Sometimes it’s more about breaking hearts because of joining the other top club of the city. And fans are fans, and I completely understand and I admire that from them because they are completely loyal to their club from day one to the last."
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