The 23-year-old has once again found his temperament rather than talent under question this week.

Everton manager David Moyes claimed the Spain midfielder made unrepeatable comments to match officials, which should have earned him a red card, as the players went down the tunnel at half-time of their Barclays Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, when Arsenal trailed to a controversial goal which appeared offside.

The Football Association have confirmed referee Lee Mason did not include any such incident in his report, although further speculation of just what the Arsenal captain was reported to have shouted, questioning the integrity of the officials, emerged yesterday.

Fabregas is certainly no stranger to controversy.

In March 2009, the Spain international was accused of spitting at Hull assistant Brian Horton at the end of their stormy FA Cup quarter-final - a charge of which he was subsequently cleared by the FA.

Just three weeks ago, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said the Arsenal skipper had been "clever" in winning a penalty which saw Gary Caldwell sent off, and then on Tuesday night Fabregas himself felt the need to use his programme notes to clear up a Twitter row with Huddersfield's Anthony Pilkington over the swapping of shirts after their FA Cup fourth-round win.

While Wenger is in no doubt there is an agenda against his captain, the Arsenal manager has confidence World Cup-winner Fabregas can rise above it all as the Gunners target success in all four competitions.

"Cesc has gone through a lot, difficult moments, but has always come out stronger - this guy is a fantastic leader," Wenger said.

"He is 24 this year, he has played 250 games in the Premier League - at that age, it is absolutely remarkable," Wenger added: "People are more demanding, and Cesc has to live with that.

"It is not easy, but he is a very intelligent man and he will learn very quickly to cope with that."

Wenger feels there is a witch hunt against Fabregas.

"We are long enough in the job to know that somebody picks on you for a while, and you are in the heat of the moment," he said.

"But for me what is the most important is the player behaves well.

"When Cesc is on the pitch, he tries to play football - I cannot say everybody who plays against him tries to do that.

"Overall this guy is an example on the football pitch and shows you how to play football."

The FA now consider the matter closed, although Everton could yet make a formal complaint.

Fabregas issued a statement on Wednesday night, insisting he did not overstep the mark and held the utmost respect for all match officials, adding "many things are said in the heat of the moment", while Wenger yesterday rebuked Everton manager Moyes for going public with "what he pretends to have heard in the tunnel".

Arsenal head to Newcastle tomorrow without goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, meanwhile, will miss the rest of the season as he requires surgery on a damaged shoulder.

Midfielder Alex Song (thigh) will also not feature while Theo Walcott has recovered from a minor ankle knock.