Wenger: 'Cesc should forget about Barca'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has continued to deflect Barcelona's interest in Cesc Fabregas by urging him to stay at the club and help them win the Premier League title in the coming season.

"There is a very good attitude in the squad and Cesc Fabregas can help us to achieve our targets," Wenger told a news conference ahead of this weekend's pre-season four-team Emirates Cup which they are hosting.

Wenger continued: "He is now at the age of 23 and he has just won the World Cup and I believe he will gain in authority again next season - the biggest achievement for him is to help us win the championship."

Fabregas has been courted relentlessly by Barcelona where he was part of the Catalan club's youth programme, and the player admitted on Thursday he was torn between staying at Arsenal and returning to the Nou Camp.

Barcelona made a £29 million bid for him last month but Wenger reiterated on Friday that Arsenal were not prepared to negotiate and said he expects Fabregas to remain a Gunner.

"I have always said that Cesc Fabregas will be our captain next season and we want to keep him, and despite all the speculation for the whole of last season and this summer, nothing has changed. Look at the length of his contract and there is five or six years to go I think. That means when we sign a contract for a long period we are committed to that player no matter what happens, to pay him and to keep him."