Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says there's a massive gulf between how he is treated at the Gunners and the way Barcelona handled him.
He left Barcelona because he had grown frustrated at the club's failure to give him even the hint of an opportunity of progress to the first team.
Arsene Wenger snatched him away and showed so much faith in him that, last summer, he allowed Patrick Vieira to leave.
Now Fabregas is intent on repaying Wenger for the trust he placed in him. "Even though I have only been here three years," Fabregas said, "Sunday will be very special for me, too.
"I made my league debut at Highbury. I will always remember that moment. My family was in the stand and it was one of the best feelings I have ever had.
"I was a season ticket holder at Barcelona since I was two-years-old. I played for them for six years. It was magnificent there and I learned so much. But the move to Arsenal has made me physically stronger than many people of my age.
"I felt the project here was very good for me. I talked to Arsene Wenger before I joined.
"At Barcelona, I was one of the captains in the Under-15s but they never pushed me up so I could play with people older and learn quicker.
"They said nice things about me but they did not act on it. So I thought the move to Arsenal was a good thing, not just for the football but for personal reasons. I am really happy with the choice I made. This club had confidence in me. They gave me the opportunity, especially Arsene Wenger. I will always be grateful to him. Now I have to pay him back.
"I would not be playing in the final of the Champions League or making my debut for Spain without him.
"Because of the trust he showed in me, I even have a chance to go to the World Cup. I really appreciate everything he has done and I want to pay him back."
He left Barcelona because he had grown frustrated at the club's failure to give him even the hint of an opportunity of progress to the first team.
Arsene Wenger snatched him away and showed so much faith in him that, last summer, he allowed Patrick Vieira to leave.
Now Fabregas is intent on repaying Wenger for the trust he placed in him. "Even though I have only been here three years," Fabregas said, "Sunday will be very special for me, too.
"I made my league debut at Highbury. I will always remember that moment. My family was in the stand and it was one of the best feelings I have ever had.
"I was a season ticket holder at Barcelona since I was two-years-old. I played for them for six years. It was magnificent there and I learned so much. But the move to Arsenal has made me physically stronger than many people of my age.
"I felt the project here was very good for me. I talked to Arsene Wenger before I joined.
"At Barcelona, I was one of the captains in the Under-15s but they never pushed me up so I could play with people older and learn quicker.
"They said nice things about me but they did not act on it. So I thought the move to Arsenal was a good thing, not just for the football but for personal reasons. I am really happy with the choice I made. This club had confidence in me. They gave me the opportunity, especially Arsene Wenger. I will always be grateful to him. Now I have to pay him back.
"I would not be playing in the final of the Champions League or making my debut for Spain without him.
"Because of the trust he showed in me, I even have a chance to go to the World Cup. I really appreciate everything he has done and I want to pay him back."
