Cesc Fábregas, the Arsenal captain, insists that the Gunners can overcome Manchester United's multimillion-pound side and reach the Champions League final at their expense tomorrow night.
United dominated the first leg at Old Trafford, leaving the £30m signing Dimitar Berbatov on the sidelines, as they took a 1–0 lead in the tie but Fábregas believes that expensively assembled squads are no guarantee of success and is confident Arsenal's young and comparatively low-budget outfit can turn the tables on the defending European champions.
"It does not mean that because one player cost £20m, he is better than one that cost £2m," said Fábregas, who won Euro 2008 with Spain last summer and turned 22 today. "It has been shown with the likes of Patrick [Vieira], Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry – they are the best players in the world, have won World Cups, European Championships and some players who have cost £20m or £30m, they have not won anything."
"We know what we can do," he added. "We know we are good and we just have to be positive and believe we can do it. We know we can be really strong if we play as a team and individual stuff will come during the game. The most important thing is that the team is united and we are."
Arsenal offered a disappointingly disjointed display at Old Trafford, and but for the heroics of Manuel Almunia, the goalkeeper, would almost certainly be out of contention by now. But Fábregas claims United will face very different opponents tomorrow as Arsenal remain unbeaten at home in Europe, winning all but one of their Champions League matches at the Emirates, where they have yet to concede a goal.
"At home we know we are very strong and will have our fans behind us," he said. "When you play at home it is completely different for any team in the world. You are playing behind your fans, you know the stadium, the pitch, the grass is better. You know where you have to play the ball and when you do not have to play it.
"As a team, if we are strong, compact, and put pressure on them I am sure we have a great chance of going through. We just have to play our game, be confident we can do it because I know we can do it. Let's focus on our game, be positive and go for it."
Fábregas may only be 22, but the Spaniard, who was in the Arsenal side that lost to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final has vast experience for one so young.
"For most of the players, tomorrow could be the most important game of their career and at the Emirates it is probably the biggest game that has ever been played," he said. "We want to make history here and we want to go through."
Fábregas is in no doubt his own career developed in such a rapid way because he moved to the Gunners. "If I had not come to Arsenal when I was 16, today I probably would not be playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League or have the opportunity to play in a Champions League final," he said. "I am really grateful to what Arsenal have done for me.
"Now it is up to me and all the Arsenal players who were brought here when they were young to achieve things for the club who believed in you and the fans who supported you. Now it is up to us to pay them back."
Despite his commitment to the Gunners cause, Fábregas continues to find himself linked with a big-money move back to Spain but the whispers only serve to raise the hackles of the midfielder. "How many times have I said this? My future belongs to Arsenal and I want to be at Arsenal. I see my future here," he insisted. "I do not have to tell anyone to be relaxed or more confident that I am staying.
"My name has been linked with other clubs for four years, and I am still here. That should tell you something."
