The Worst Kept Secret In European Soccer Has Come True

In the last year, if you had Internet access and or a Twitter account, you've no doubt seen the constant rumors of Cesc Fabregas moving on from Arsenal to Barcelona.

Well it looks like you won't have to waste anymore of your life waiting for this foregone move to happen, because it went down today.

Coming a day after Arsenal's mostly lifeless 1-1 tie with Newcastle and the same day as Barcelona's scintillating 2-2 tie with Real Madrid in the Super Cup (Spain's version of the Community Shield), this big transfer will make the Gunners worse while also increasing the incredible talent level on Fabregas' hometown team.

On Twitter yesterday, English writers reported that Arsenal fans were left to chant "spend some fucking money," while they watched their mostly starless team struggle. Haha I wish American fans were smart or unified enough to come up with something like that.

Despite Arsenal insisting throughout the summer that they would not sell Fabregas for less than £40 million, it is thought that a £35 million fee has finally been agreed.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case. However, we understand Cesc's desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."

Fabregas, who joined the Gunners from Barca as a 16-year-old in 2003, will now agree personal terms and undergo a medical on Monday before sealing his return to the Nou Camp.

The midfielder's move will bring an end to a saga that sparked into life last summer when Fabregas told Wenger that he wanted to return to his boyhood club. Wenger stubbornly refused to let the Spain international leave at that time, but just over 12 months later he has given up on the battle to keep the wantaway star.

It has been suggested that Fabregas is willing to take a pay cut in order to force through the move, underlining his desperation to join the Champions League winners.

He played no part in Arsenal's pre-season campaign or their Premier League opener at Newcastle, with Wenger citing a lack of focus and a niggling injury.

Fabregas, who has won 58 caps for Spain, winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, made 303 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 57 goals in all competitions and claimed the record for youngest first-team player and goalscorer.

His departure will increase the pressure from fans on Wenger to use some of the transfer fee to bring in a big-name signing before the end of the transfer window. Shakhtar Donetsk claim that Arsenal have shown an interest in Brazil international midfielder Jadson, while Wenger is known to be keen to add a central defender.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to hold on to France international Samir Nasri, a target for Manchester City and a player who the Londoners could lose on a free transfer next summer when his contract expires.

Ordinarily Nasri would have been earmarked as the natural successor to Fabregas in a central role but, with his future up the air, Wenger may be forced into the transfer market.

As ESPNsoccernet's story says, Nasri is the other Arsenal player that has been the subject of constant rumors. It'll be interesting to monitor what the Gunners do in the next few weeks (the transfer window closes on August 30). If they want to get back into the top four in the EPL (and clinch a Champions League spot), the club needs to open their checkbooks and start spending some money. If not to appease their dedicated fans, but also to keep up with the Man U's, Man City's, Chelsea's and Liverpool's of the EPL.

Fabregas will take some time to adjust to the more skillful La Liga style of play but since he's played with many of Barce's players on Spain, he should be better suited than most to make an impact sooner rather than later. You can never have too much talent in sports and Barcelona is living proof of that in club soccer.

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There Will Always Come A Day When A Great Player Will Leave Arsenal

It's hard to relate it to American sports since they're a great club team that spends money and is always one of the top squads in Barclays Premier League and Europe but it's a proven fact (over and over again), that almost all great players will leave Arsenal at some point.

The latest to join his fellow French countrymen (Patrick Vieira, Kolo Toure) at Manchester City is left back Gael Clichy, who signed a four-year deal with the team that finished third last season in the Premier League and captured the FA Cup.

Arsenal was forced to sell the 25-year-old Frenchman because he had only one year left on his contract and could have moved on a free transfer at the end of next season.

Clichy spent eight years at Arsenal after joining from Cannes in August 2003. His ability on the left of defense was one of the reasons the Gunners were able to allow England international Ashley Cole to make a high-profile switch to Chelsea three years later.

Clichy was backup to Cole when Arsenal won the 2003-04 Premier League title with an unbeaten record, making him at the time the youngest player to earn a Premier League winner's medal - aged 18. He was the last member of that squad still with the north London club.

"I can't wait to get started and I think anything is possible with this team,'' Clichy said. "When I first came to England, it was Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira who took me under their wing and really looked after me.

"Kolo would pick me up and drop me at home and his wife used to cook meals for me. Patrick was always there to offer me advice, so it's wonderful to be back and at the same club they are at.''

City did not say how much it paid for Clichy. British media widely reported the fee to be about 7 million pounds.

"I'm really happy to be joining such a great club,'' Clichy said. "I hope I can add to the quality we already have here because we have a fantastic squad who I believe will continue to get better.''

With their playing style, supporters and history, Arsenal is one of the most likable club teams in the world. British author Nick Hornby wrote the book Fever Pitch about them before it was adapted into the terrible Jimmy Fallon movie about the Boston Red Sox.

So if you're a fan of the Gunners, you must go to sleep every night worrying that their current superstars Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas will eventually leave you at some point. That's no way to live.

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Fabregas and his beard check in

One of our other favorites-Cesc Fabregas-just replaced Torres. It speaks to the depth and quality of Spain that possibly the best midfielder in the EPL comes off their bench.

Granted, he's coming back from an injury. He's also rocking a Dustin Pedroia-esque beard in his 52nd international appearance which is particularly impressive when you remember that he's only 23.

2-1 Spain in the 58th minute.

0-0 Switzerland-Spain in the 60th minute.

Keep it in your pants: Iniesta, Torres and Fabregas all cleared to play for Spain

Spain hasn't played a match yet but the good news is rolling in for the team that many (cough cough Shimer) have picked to win the 2010 World Cup.

After practice today, it was announced that Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas are all available for tomorrow morning's Group H match against Switzerland (10:00 a.m.).

"Iniesta trained well" Monday and Tuesday, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "We still have some hours to talk with the doctors and it's they who will make the decision. We're thinking about [Wednesday], but we're also mindful that we have a chance to go forward in this competition."

Del Bosque added that Fernando Torres could also start in the Group H match. Cesc Fabregas is almost certain to make his 51st appearance for Spain. Both players have recovered from right leg injuries.

"All 23 players are available," said Del Bosque, who left his starting lineup a secret.

Fabregas is the most likely to start of the three, because Del Bosque can employ David Villa alone as striker in front of a five-man midfield.

"Everyone ... finished the session and, at a medical level, we couldn't ask for any more," said Oscar Celada, the team's chief doctor.

With Chile and Honduras also in the Group, Spain is clearly the front-runner in this somewhat average foursome. Let's see what the Spanish can do vs. Switzerland as they have all their weapons at their disposal.

Fabregas done for Champions League and maybe World Cup

First of all, I'd like to apologize for Shimer and myself. The lack of posts lately has been embarrassing and it's something that both of us feel terrible about. It won't happen again.

Last week, the big news out of the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League quarterfinal after the first leg, was that Gunners star midfielder Cesc Fabregas broke his leg (after a rough challenge and then taking a penalty kick) and will be out for the rest of the tournament.

That's also relevant to Spain, Fabregas usually comes off the bench for the Spanish who have a real shot to win the 2010 World Cup and now it looks like he'll miss out on South Africa which is a shame.

He'll miss at least the next six weeks after cracking his lower right fibula during last Wednesday's 2-2 tie with Barcelona at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have five more EPL games left before the season ends on May 9. On May 11, World Cup teams submit 30-man rosters and on June 1 they're cut down to 23. Spain opens up play at the World Cup against Switzerland on June 16.

This is terrible news for Fabregas because he's been one of the stars of the EPL this season, scoring 19 goals in 36 matches.

Arsenal had a stirring comeback from down 2-0 to tie the first leg but it was costly as not only Fabregas but William Gallas (calf strain) and Andrey Arshavin (calf strain) are also expected to miss three weeks.