There are SEVEN articles today all pulling hatchet jobs on Cesc Fabregas.

Before  I continue I want to let you know that my regular readers will testify that it is very rare that I criticise the press deeply. Speculative and stories I dispel – but rarely will you see a blog like this on here.

The last time I saw bile on this magnitude was when Eduardo was the victim of a witch-hunt. That time he was guilty of going down easily but there was still contact. The Daily Mail wrote countless columns condemning the dirty cheat but say nothing about Gerrard and Rooney – repeat English offenders. They even set up their own campaign to stop diving. It stopped the very next day as Ashley Young dived to win a penalty in the UEFA Cup.

It is no surprise that countless Mail journo’s have decided to have their say, they lead with four hatchet jobs on our captain.

“He remains brilliantly influential in Arsenal’s midfield as the team chase four trophies but something is eating away at him. Something is stirring his demons and sparking criticism from respected figures like David Moyes.” – Matt Barlow

‘Ah, why not add another ingredient to the pot as well! Cesc looks moody and does bad stuff so he must want to go to Barcelona !!!! ‘ Do me a favour, love. Are you telling me that a player who’s team is losing, that has had countless decisions go against them by a totally inept referee is going to be happy?

Cesc is alleged to have said to the referee (note: alleged): “So how much have Everton paid you”. Cheeky, rude and maybe a tiny bit insulting. Also something that the referee didn’t deem bad enough to speak to him about. I tell you what, I was thinking exactly that at half time. I questioned the integrity of the referee too. He was that bad.

Out of proportion, yes. But its what fans do. It is passion. It is what Cesc was displaying – and they think its because he wants off to Barcelona? Oh dear lord.

What really gets me in this article though is the reference to Brian Horton. The man who LIED, it was proven, to dirty Cesc’s name and to accuse him of spitting. The journalist in question is that desperate to find evidence to badmouth Cesc that they resort to A) an unproven allegation and B) an event where Cesc was cleared of any wrongdoing, just shows how desperate he is. That got me angry.

He also brings up the comments of Roberto Martinez after the Wigan game – Martinez claimed Cesc went down too easily to win the penalty. He didn’t dive though, it was a foul, it was a penalty, what is the point you are making? Really?

We then get the comments that were tweeted by some Huddersfield footballer after the game claiming Cesc was a ‘sick’ player (innit), and also a ‘tit’. He alleged he told Huddersfield players to ‘***k off’ when they asked for his shirt after the game. Cesc had two shirts – he gave them both away. Another unproven allegation. These were the same players who pushed him over and repeatedly kicked him. Why the hell should he even give them his shirt?

So what if Cesc doesn’t shake players hands whom he doesn’t like. There is no law against it. In fact, why not make a stand and refuse to go along with things the likes of Keys and Gray would endorse as the done thing? Its aged. If a handshake is all there is to worry about the world is a damn site better place to be than I thought. You wouldn’t know there were uprisings, flooding, drought and a humongous hurricane practically blasting Australia off the map, would you?

This is just bits I have picked out from one Mail article.

Another – by Spurs fan Leo Spall – picks out that he isn’t a leader, that leaders don’t behave like he did against Everton. I’m sorry?! We have never seen Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Roy Keane or John Terry question referees have we? We didn’t see Darren Fletcher full on SHOVE a referee back in the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford did we?

Of course, Gary Neville was being very polite in this instance...

The same Gary Neville who the Mail call a ‘true fighter who bristled with attitude’

Get lost. Has Cesc ever deliberately provoked thousands of fans, causing a near riot? Nah, thought not. Was his leadership ever questioned because of his countless scrapes with officialdom? Was it heck.

Another article goes onto claim (in the Mail):

‘Fabregas made his comments from afar and referee Lee Mason chose not to report the incident to the FA when he was quizzed on the matter on Wednesday. It will go no further unless Everton lodge an official complaint.’

It is an ALLEGED incident. Whatever happened to being proven guilty? Has Cesc been charged? No. Will he be charged? Probably not. Why? Because it is a massive fuss over something that happens in EVERY tunnel, EVERY week at EVERY level of the game.

I have ranted at ref’s before when I think there has been an injustice. Sometimes it is just to vent anger and frustration – others it is because you are right and the official has made a howler. As a captain you reserve the right to ask the referee to explain a decision, it is a rule – there is nothing wrong in doing it as long as you do it in a respectful manner. In the past few weeks Cesc has been criticised for being fouled for a penalty, criticised for making the ref aware that Bendtner was taken down by the last man for a penalty and the player not sent off (like Squillaci had been), and for ranting at an appalling decision. A laughable decision in fact. So actually, he has done sod all wrong.

It is stuff like this that turns fans unfairly against players.

Once again one of our players is the subject of a witch-hunt – a character assassination. Nearly every one of the allegations are just that – allegations, unproven.

You know – I do think Cesc said something to the referee as he was in the tunnel. He probably said what was reported, and guess what, I was thinking the same. Its passion, a desire to win. At least, if Rooney had said it, he would be hailed for his fight and passion.

However, opinions are formed on allegations – and as proven so often – they are often misguided opinions. It is defamation, and if I was Cesc I would be livid.

Eduardo was the last player to be hounded out of the country, things like today make Cesc more likely to be the next player. Not the fact he wants to go already – he loves Arsenal, we all know that. It’s Arsenal or Barca – nobody else. He isn’t sulking he just wants to win, he really wants to win. You can see it in his play, the drive and passion is there for all to see.

Cesc is spiky, yes. He is young, passionate and a damn good player. That doesn’t make him yearn for Barca, it doesn’t make him a hate figure.

If he was English I wouldn’t have to write this, and that is the sad thing.