Claudius hard disagree. Wenger built the team around him. The side wasn't as strong as it could have been but Wenger gave him the platform to play the best football of his career. When he went to a team with a better squad at Barca he was just a rotation player.

      Qwiss meanwhile Odegaard (and Saka) are rigidly stuck in a system that gives them minimal freedom compared to what Fabregas had. Although back in the 00s it was normal for your best player to have a free role to influence the game how they saw fit until tiki-taka and then ControlBall ruined the fun

      Fabregas could never last a full season wherever he played, he dropped off post Jan every time. I’d say him and Odegaard are on par for what they achieved so far

          I think Fabregas had a higher ceiling, but also a lower floor than Odegaard.

          Their stats across all seasons in the Premier League are comparable with Fabregas scoring/assisting in .48 games and Odegaard at .44 games. That's a marginal difference, but where Fabregas takes the output consideration is in his 09/10 season with 30 goal contributions in 27 games. Odegaard has peaked at 22 in 37, a noticeably less efficient volume.

          That said, outside of a few cowardly performances at Liverpool, I think on his worst day Odegaard is noticeably better than Fabregas at his lows. Odegaard has a far bigger impact on our defensive pressing and shape.

          I'm not sure how to gauge our current team in which Odegaard really only has Saka (going forward) vs Fabregas playing in teams with Nasri, RVP, Arshavin, and Walcott....though rarely all together. It seems that Fabregas had more offensive players to enhance his output, where as Odegaard has a far better backline supporting him.

            Mirth .I’d say him and Odegaard are on par for what they achieved so far

            In what? lol. I fucking hate Fabgreas but let's be real, Odegaard will never get close to Fabregas. When it comes to assists stats, he won't get close, no need to talk about it, period. In goals? maybe....but it will be hard, we will see. In winning shit? It's already over for Odegaard, he has 0 chance.

                Fabregas became a G/A monster in his last couple of years with us but in that period I hated that he was played as a S/S. He didn't have the agility or nimbleness for it and we lost all his structure, dictating ability and middle of the park genius when he moved further up.

                HomeSteak eh, in terms of actually watching them play. With all this talk of goals + assists, you'd think Fabregas benched Xavi and Iniesta instead of the other way around.

                Like BBKG, some of Fabregas' best performances were during that CL run where he wasn't scoring or assisting but dominating midfield. As for goalscoring, Odegaard already surpassed Fabregas' 07/08 tally a couple of seasons back. After that Fabregas was practically a second striker for which the whole team suffered.

                    Mirth come on man, who would bench prime Xavi and Iniesta? Odegaard wouldn't either.
                    Odegaard has it all to prove, well the snake did it all

                        HomeSteak my point was that goals and assists don’t translate to evaluating performances for that midfield role.

                        And yeah, Fabregas won it all but not at Arsenal

                          Mirth Although back in the 00s it was normal for your best player to have a free role to influence the game how they saw fit until tiki-taka and then ControlBall ruined the fun

                          Its still normal for some teams. Look at Salah or Palmer.

                          Mirth I’d say him and Odegaard are on par for what they achieved so far

                          Yeah but Ode has some heavy lifting in these next few seasons to match him for trophies.

                          MistaT That said, outside of a few cowardly performances at Liverpool, I think on his worst day Odegaard is noticeably better than Fabregas at his lows. Odegaard has a far bigger impact on our defensive pressing and shape.

                          Fabregas was capable of some next level stupidity that you just don't get from Odegaard. I also think Odegaard is a much better leader. And his defensive contribution is more significant.

                                  Odegaard is phenomenal, but let's not forget prime Cesc was something else. At one point he was legit the best CM in midfield and at that age, something special.

                                  I agree with BBKG, moving him up front got more goals and assist but he was less effective overall. When Mourinho played him as a DLP again when he came back, that season was out of the world with some of his passes and vision. I remember thinking we got the wrong player. But ultimately he was only good for 1 season and Ozil was good for around 3.

                                    Clrnc I’m with you. Prime Fabregas was godly. Even as a child, I’ll never forget first time seeing him play and look like a veteran from day1.

                                      Qwiss Oh, that I agree. We had Ramsey and Cazorla and badly needed a striker but we got another playmaker lol.

                                        a month later

                                        He's been really out of it since he became a dad in the beginning of December. Could be coincidental, but I wonder if his head isn't all in the game.

                                          He’s a support man not a talisman