It is sometimes easy to forget that Cesc Fabregas has not long been old enough to buy a bottle of Bollinger with which to toast another man-of-the-match display.
The 21-year-old may have endured a bitterly disappointing end to his club campaign with Arsenal as the Gunners saw both their Champions League hopes and domestic title dreams shattered, but there can be no doubt their talented young Spain midfielder has the world at his feet, underlined by the fact he was voted the PFA's Young Player of the Year.
Fabregas was schooled at Barcelona before Arsene Wenger convinced him his future lie in north London with Arsenal, where he moved in September 2003.
Only a month later Fabregas would become Arsenal's youngest player to make an appearance in the first team at just 16 and 177 days during a League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury.
It was a low-key start to what would develop into a rapidly ascent which would come to include a Champions League final against his boyhood club within three seasons.
Despite the disappointment of that rainy night in Paris and the failure of Arsene Wenger's men to maintain their blistering form over the crucial final third of last season, Fabregas rightly drew great praise for his all-action displays at the heart of midfield.
The young Spaniard was one of several young Gunners who played with a new-found freedom following the departure of long-time talisman Thierry Henry in the summer of 2007.
Fabregas again chalked up more than 40 appearances for the Gunners, whose season also included a two-legged Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague as well as a run to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
The midfielder first made his mark at international level during the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship held in Finland, where he was the top scorer and voted player of the tournament as Spain finished runners-up to Brazil.
The teenager would go on to become the youngest player capped for Spain in 70 years when he made his debut in the full national side against the Ivory Coast in March 2006 and also was selected for the World Cup squad in Germany.
The 20-year-old is now an established member of the national team and helped Spain recover from a shock Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Northern Ireland in Belfast, as well as taking only three points from their first three Group F games, to finish in top spot ahead of Sweden.
However, as straight-talking coach Luis Aragones noted, the biggest test is yet to come. He said: "Spain have been qualifying for finals tournaments for many years so this isn't a success - but simply doing our duty."
Key to those chances of avoiding another disappointing tournament of potential unfulfilled look set to be the performances of the likes of Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
A successful campaign in Austria and Switzerland this summer - where Spain face Russia, former winners Greece and Sweden once again - and the inevitable speculation over the future of Arsenal's star midfielder are bound to surface.
However, Fabregas - whose sponsors Nike have given the young Spaniard his own TV show - is in no doubt Arsenal is the right place for him to stay.
"My future belongs to Arsenal, and it is the truth," Fabregas declared.
"I do not know why it is always the same with my situation, always putting my name in another team.
"I have always said I want to play for Arsenal, it is the best team I can be at, the best club for me.
"Before I even say anything, people put me in another club and I don't understand that. I have always wanted to play for Arsenal."
Fabregas insisted: "I am happy at Arsenal. I feel valued here. I am made to feel an important player, I am relaxed, I live in a city I love, I have a perfect understanding with my team-mates.
"I have a coach who believes in me and that is fundamental because in Spain a trainer signs you and three months later you are out. There are so many good things here that I am not thinking about leaving."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes the drive and determination of youngsters like Fabregas can only move his current Arsenal squad towards recapturing the glories achieved under Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams and Company.
"They are top-class players, top-class personalities and they are winners," declared the Arsenal manager.
"At the end of the day those who make the clubs win first of all must have a burning internal desire to win.
""Winning must mean something to you.
"If your job is to win football games, it must mean something to you and for them it is a big, big significance."
Fabregas was schooled at Barcelona before Arsene Wenger convinced him his future lie in north London with Arsenal, where he moved in September 2003.
Only a month later Fabregas would become Arsenal's youngest player to make an appearance in the first team at just 16 and 177 days during a League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury.
It was a low-key start to what would develop into a rapidly ascent which would come to include a Champions League final against his boyhood club within three seasons.
Despite the disappointment of that rainy night in Paris and the failure of Arsene Wenger's men to maintain their blistering form over the crucial final third of last season, Fabregas rightly drew great praise for his all-action displays at the heart of midfield.
The young Spaniard was one of several young Gunners who played with a new-found freedom following the departure of long-time talisman Thierry Henry in the summer of 2007.
Fabregas again chalked up more than 40 appearances for the Gunners, whose season also included a two-legged Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague as well as a run to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
The midfielder first made his mark at international level during the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship held in Finland, where he was the top scorer and voted player of the tournament as Spain finished runners-up to Brazil.
The teenager would go on to become the youngest player capped for Spain in 70 years when he made his debut in the full national side against the Ivory Coast in March 2006 and also was selected for the World Cup squad in Germany.
The 20-year-old is now an established member of the national team and helped Spain recover from a shock Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Northern Ireland in Belfast, as well as taking only three points from their first three Group F games, to finish in top spot ahead of Sweden.
However, as straight-talking coach Luis Aragones noted, the biggest test is yet to come. He said: "Spain have been qualifying for finals tournaments for many years so this isn't a success - but simply doing our duty."
Key to those chances of avoiding another disappointing tournament of potential unfulfilled look set to be the performances of the likes of Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
A successful campaign in Austria and Switzerland this summer - where Spain face Russia, former winners Greece and Sweden once again - and the inevitable speculation over the future of Arsenal's star midfielder are bound to surface.
However, Fabregas - whose sponsors Nike have given the young Spaniard his own TV show - is in no doubt Arsenal is the right place for him to stay.
"My future belongs to Arsenal, and it is the truth," Fabregas declared.
"I do not know why it is always the same with my situation, always putting my name in another team.
"I have always said I want to play for Arsenal, it is the best team I can be at, the best club for me.
"Before I even say anything, people put me in another club and I don't understand that. I have always wanted to play for Arsenal."
Fabregas insisted: "I am happy at Arsenal. I feel valued here. I am made to feel an important player, I am relaxed, I live in a city I love, I have a perfect understanding with my team-mates.
"I have a coach who believes in me and that is fundamental because in Spain a trainer signs you and three months later you are out. There are so many good things here that I am not thinking about leaving."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes the drive and determination of youngsters like Fabregas can only move his current Arsenal squad towards recapturing the glories achieved under Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams and Company.
"They are top-class players, top-class personalities and they are winners," declared the Arsenal manager.
"At the end of the day those who make the clubs win first of all must have a burning internal desire to win.
""Winning must mean something to you.
"If your job is to win football games, it must mean something to you and for them it is a big, big significance."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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