Arsenal Transfer News: Why Fabregas Deal Will Make Gunners a Threat in the EPL

Arsenal has finally let Cesc Fabregas go. 

The former captain of the Gunners had not been shy of his desire for a transfer to his hometown of Barcelona to play with countrymen Andres Iniesta and Xavi in the midfield. 

However, news of the transfer of one of Arsenal's most talented young players should, contrary to common sense, make Arsenal's fans more optimistic for the future.

It is true, Fabregas has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League for the past few seasons. He captained Arsenal to successful league finishes and earned a World Cup trophy to boot. 

However, since that World Cup, it has been clear that his heart was not in London. Wooed by the Catalan club as early as the championship celebration (putting him in a Barca shirt, as pictured), Fabregas quickly became unquestionably distracted and a shell of his former self.

The distractions of the constant transfer news affected Fabregas' play and, as he was the captain, the Gunners as a whole. If the other players on the team were not subject to this distraction problem, then at least Arsene Wenger fell victim. 

The ridiculous handling of the situation by Barcelona's players, who brought up the front office issues when it was in no way their place to do so, rightfully angered Wenger, who seemed to have to constantly rebut their claims.

Holding onto Fabregas based on principle would have made sense. It would have been a big statement that Arsenal is not a "feeder" club as has been suggested and an "eff you" to Barcelona for their handling of the situation. 

However, the unprofessional behavior of Xavi and Victor Valdes in particular made this not only impossible but a hindrance to the club's hopes for the season.

Now that the Fabregas saga is over, Arsenal, and particularly Wenger, can concentrate on the highly talented team they have without the Spanish midfielder, assess what they might need and use the ludicrous transfer fee to buy needed players. 

Jack Wilshere is a budding young midfielder, Robin van Persie is still the talented striker he has been for the past few years and Thomas Vermaelen has looked very good in the defense. 

In addition, with their new spending money, Arsenal can get more talented midfielders like for-sale Inter Milan man Wesley Sneijder, who, at their bests, would be an improvement on Fabregas anyway.

With the distraction of the transfer hanging over their heads, I would have said that Arsenal were in line to slip down the table. By completing the transfer, as hard as it is for this Spurs fan to say, the Gunners are poised for another top four push.

It may defy logic, but by getting rid of one of their best players and becoming worse in video-game land (AKA on paper), Arsenal has improved by leaps and bounds. It is truly addition by subtraction.

Now they just need to do the same with a certain Frenchman.