Cesc Fabregas' comments on Chelsea spoke volumes after declaring his love for Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas has opened up about his loyalty to both Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of their all-important clash

Cesc Fabregas has been open about his fondness for the success he enjoyed at Chelsea while maintaining a fierce loyalty to Arsenal. With both clubs preparing for another fiery London derby, Fabregas has remained coy about who he'd support on Sunday afternoon.

The former midfielder represented both London clubs during his playing days, initially arriving at Arsenal as a teenager. The Spaniard spent eight years in north London following his switch from Barcelona's academy to the Gunners in 2003.

Despite his extended spell and becoming club captain in 2008, Fabregas only won the FA Cup and the Community Shield. By contrast, the midfielder moved to Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014 and spent five years in blue, securing many more major honours.

These included two Premier League titles, the League and FA Cup alongside the Europa League. In a 2020 interview with The Telegraph, Fabregas suggested his affection was split evenly between both teams.

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"My heart belongs to both clubs," he said. "I know it sounds politically correct, but it really is what I feel. When I was with Arsenal I never believed I could feel what I felt towards Chelsea. It was impossible. But this is the beauty of football."

However, earlier remarks have revealed just where his true devotion lies in the Arsenal-Chelsea rivalry. Speaking on the Arseblog podcast, Fabregas declared his continued loyalty to the Gunners.

He said: "Every game I played for Arsenal was very special. The club meant everything to me. I remember the day I joined like it was yesterday.

"I didn't have a chance to say 'bye' but thank you for everything you did for me. I have you all [the fans in my heart]."

Reflecting on his departure from the Gunners nine years ago, Fabregas added: "I was just a servant and spent eight years there when I gave absolutely everything. It didn't show in the cabinet, I only won one FA Cup really, and this is the biggest regret I will have in my career, probably, not to be able to lift a trophy as Arsenal captain.

"I will always be an Arsenal fan because what they have done for me is unbelievable and I will never forget it."

The 38-year-old has acknowledged the complex position he finds himself in regarding his allegiances to both Arsenal and Chelsea. While his affection for the Gunners remains firm, Fabregas recognises the trophies he collected at Stamford Bridge and considers the switch to have been the best professional move.

Fabregas said: "Even if I want to say I'm the biggest Arsenal fan, which I will always be forever, I cannot say I am completely loyal from a fans' perspective because I went to Chelsea. It was my opportunity as a football player, as a professional.

"But when I took that chance, I never thought I would be so happy there, that I would be so successful and that I would have so much appreciation and feeling with their fans. So now I support both clubs equally.

"When I was at Arsenal, I felt so completely in love with that club. From the start, when I was training and made my debut with the 'Invincibles'. There was something inside of me that was impossible to ever go away because I probably had the best years of my life there.

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"But being at Chelsea is something that I will never regret in my life; in fact completely the opposite. I will always talk about Chelsea and about my time at Chelsea as probably the best decision of my career."

He added: "Sometimes it's difficult to change people's opinion. I did what I did and I gave my all. If someone saw it, it's great and if someone didn't, then it's a shame and I feel bad because first of all they believe I could have done better.

"But maybe it's not even about football. Sometimes it's more about breaking hearts because of joining the other top club of the city. And fans are fans, and I completely understand and I admire that from them because they are completely loyal to their club from day one to the last."