Cesc Fabregas reveals the big difference between Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola

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Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas had the pleasure of playing under some of the best managers to ever grace football during his career.

Arsene Wenger handed Fabregas his Arsenal debut back in 2003, becoming the club’s youngest ever player at the time.

The Spaniard, at 16 years and 177 days old, took to the pitch in a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United in the League Cup, admittedly not the most prestigious of starts.

But after then returning to Barcelona in 2011, Fabregas enjoyed being able to work under Pep Guardiola, who some consider to be the greatest of all time – a debate for another occasion.

Now a manager himself, Fabregas has taken Italian side Como to the Serie A and faces the difficult task of keeping the minnows in the top flight, even if he has got some famous names on board.

Cesc Fabregas says Arsene Wenger gave him more freedom at Arsenal

Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Fabregas has now shared the big discrepancy between how both Wenger and Guardiola set up their teams.

Fabregas didn’t express which method he preferred, but the Spaniard will have certainly soaked up a ton of knowledge for his own coaching.

READ MORE: Ethan Nwaneri now ready for his Cesc Fabregas moment at Arsenal in the North London derby

He said: “Arsene was more into the technical side, more freedom, more occupying the spaces, more about my role in particular, about going where you feel you can be dangerous.

“But it is also trust because he knew that by me doing that and giving me this freedom, I was actually delivering the way he wanted me to do.

“So that’s also a connection that you get between the coaches and the players.

“And when I went to Barcelona, Pep was completely the opposite. He was very positional play, tactically very strong.

“He had every piece, you know, studied of what he wanted and what everyone should do at every moment.

“So yeah, in this case, everything was very different.”

Can Mikel Arteta prove a combination of both at Arsenal?

Of course, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Mikel Arteta is once mentioned in the same vein as the names above.

And perhaps Arteta has the chance to prove his credentials in the upcoming North London derby.

Martin Odegaard won’t play against Tottenham according to sources in Norway, who believe his absence may even stretch into October.

Declan Rice will also be missing because of his suspension, a huge frustration for the Gunners.

Therefore, Arsenal might turn to Ethan Nwaneri to start against Spurs, a real baptism of fire for the excellent youngster.