Arsene Wenger's Comments Will Not End Speculation About Cesc Fabregas

Football fans are by and large a cynical bunch – or at least likely to read between the lines of any statement from their club, rather than accept it at face value.

Which is why Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's attempts to end the 'will-he-won't-he' saga surrounding Cesc Fabregas and his mooted move to Barcelona have not been greeted with the universal relief that it should have been.

Wenger, in his first public statement this summer about his midfielder, told his club's official website: "Cesc is a very important player for us, he is our captain and we've worked very hard for him to be our future. That is why we are always adamant about not letting him go."

Which should be the end of it, shouldn't it? Barcelona will simply shrug their shoulders and move on to other matters, such as dealing with their massive debts, right?

In an ideal world, yes. But in reality, this will go on until the end of the transfer window – and beyond.

Fabregas himself has made noises about wanting to move to the Nou Camp and even donned a Barca shirt during Spain's celebrations after winning World Cup – something which he later dismissed as a "joke" instigated by his team mates.

Barcelona, even with their debts – they are almost £400 million in the red after losses of £64 million last year – will not give up on buying the best players possible, in their bid to remain ahead of Real Madrid. Because they continued to pursue Fabregas well after Arsenal's initial rebuff, on June 2.

Back then the Gunners said: "In response [to Barcelona's offer], we immediately and resolutely told them once again we have no intention of selling our captain." Barca didn't listen then, so there is no guarantee they will now. And what if Fabregas was to call Wenger's bluff and hand in a transfer request?

He has five years remaining on his contract, so Arsenal could conceivably reject it and risk having an unhappy captain for the next half-decade before letting him go for nothing.

Or they could admit that they cannot offer what Fabregas wants and let him go. At least they would recoup upwards of £35 million for him.

For all Arsenal's steadfast refusal to enter any discussions, they can't influence Fabregas's feelings or intentions; there is nothing they can do to stop their man from wanting to leave, no matter how many assurances they give him that yes, this is the year they will end their five-year trophy drought.

As Wenger alluded to in his statement. He said: "It is only noise. In our job we have to deal with what we can master. What we cannot influence is not to worry about."

The only problem with not worrying about what you cannot influence is that, sooner or later, it may turn into something they need to worry about.