

To remember Cesc Fabregas’s Premier League debut, you have to travel back to the day our glorious 2004/05 season began.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea against Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United was the late kick-off that sunny August Sunday, the showpiece final chapter of the top-flight’s opening weekend. Earlier that afternoon the reigning champions, Arsenal, travelled to face Everton at Goodison Park.

Fresh-faced Fabregas had not long turned 17. He came straight in to the starting XI in place of injured captain Patrick Vieira and produced an outstanding performance. Described by The Guardian as ‘indefatigable and possessing an assured touch’, the Spaniard helped Arsenal, unbeaten the previous season, win 4-1.

He made a further 32 league appearances in 04/05, but it was of course the Blues who ran away with the title. Fabregas would have to wait until he moved to Stamford Bridge before getting his hands on the trophy.

‘The day we won it, I remember I just went on my knees,’ Fabregas recalls, picking out a highlight from his now 300-strong Premier League appearances. He is still only 29.

‘It was such a big relief. I remember I had competed a lot of years, sometimes we were close, sometimes not so much, but I really tried to give a lot everywhere I have been in the Premier League and to finally achieve it was one of the best moments in my career.