Cesc Fabregas might have left Arsenal last summer, but the love for his old team is still very much there. The Barcelona playmaker believes there is nobody better than Arsene Wenger in nurturing talent, and has backed his former side to win trophies this year.

"Arsene Wenger is amazing and I'm sure he will prove it again this season," Fabregas told The Sun. "He always finds the best young talent in Europe and has the courage to bring them in and give them their chance.

"That is his special talent, the way he works with a player to build their confidence and encourage them to play, to perform at their best.

"That's why I'm confident that Arsenal will again be up there challenging.

"I watch them every weekend because Arsenal still mean so much to me."

Fabregas has found it a little hard to consistently find form this season at the Nou Camp, with the former Arsenal captain voicing his frustrations at being substituted for every game. That led to him being linked with a return to the Emirates, but Fabregas believes his future lies with Barcelona.

The 25-year-old added he has no problems with competitions for a place in the starting XI, and was looking forward to another successful season with his hometown club.

"It was a privilege for me to spend eight years at such a magnificent club," he said.

"But now is a new chapter at Barcelona and I said when I signed here that it was going to be the most exciting and difficult challenge of my life.

"I knew I was coming to compete for a place against the best players in the world but I like big challenges.

"If I didn't I would have stayed at Arsenal where I was the captain, where I played every game and where I was treated so well.

"I have a big heart, a strong character and I have the courage to carry on competing for my place."