Now 20, the Spaniard has grown in stature since making his bow in a League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury during October 2003.

Little did the watching Gunners faithful know then that soon this combative youngster would be at the heartbeat of the side.

Taking on the mantle left by then captain Patrick Vieira when he departed for Juventus during the summer of 2005 was always going to be a tough challenge.

It is, though, one which Fabregas has risen to with great gusto.

And for him, there could be no better role model.

"It is a big honour wearing this shirt because it was Patrick's number," Fabregas declared at the end of last season.

"He was a great player for Arsenal and one day I would like to be like him. I will just keep working hard to achieve that."

The Spaniard, who came through the youth ranks at Barcelona, is probably closer to that goal than he or manager Arsene Wenger would like to admit.

Playing without fear, Fabregas showed just how far he has come in a short space of time during the run to the Champions League final of 2006 - as Arsenal got the better of their old skipper along the way.

With talisman Thierry Henry now also gone following his summer move to the Nou Camp, the role of Fabregas within the team structure will certainly step up a level.

However, despite declaring his intention to lead by example and offer his services as captain, that may just have to wait a while - although Fabregas would be a logical choice for the Carling Cup side.

Next season, the role of regular skipper looks again set to be fulfilled by veteran Brazilian Gilberto, who turns 31 at the end of the month.

The defensive midfielder missed the Copa America final win over Argentina through suspension, and is likely to be eased back into pre-season training with the Gunners ahead of the Emirates Cup next weekend.

That warm-up event at the impressive 60,000-seater venue in north London will see the return of Vieira, now with Internazionale, to the club where he made his name.

Gilberto firmly believes Fabregas has got what it takes to put himself up there with the best in the world - provided he keeps learning.

"Cesc can be one of the best in his position. It is just down to him to continue the way he is playing and try to learn more," said Gilberto, one of the Premier League's finest at breaking up play and shielding his team-mates.

"Sometimes you need to play more with your brain than with your power, to read the game all of the time.

"But if he can learn that, quickly, then he can be one of the best."

The Brazilian, who won the World Cup in 2002, added: "I speak to him, especially on the pitch when we play together.

"I try to position him in the right place. When you are young, you want to run more than position yourself in the right place.

"Cesc is learning. He is young, it takes time. Next season he can develop himself more than he has done."

Fabregas chalked up more than a half-century of games last season for both club and country.

Wenger believes the drive and determination of youngsters like Fabregas can only move this squad towards recapturing the glories achieved under Henry, 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"