Arsenal finally received the news for which they had been working all summer when captain and Spanish World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas committed himself to the Gunners for the forthcoming season.

And the Gunners’ even longer-term problem of their goalkeeping position appears a little nearer solution, with Fulham’s Australian international keeper Marc Schwarzer looking North London-bound.

Last week, the 23-year-old Fabregas ended what was becoming a tug-of-indifference battle between his current and former clubs.

Catalan giants Barcelona have been pursuing their former youth team midfielder all summer. But Fabregas now claims he is “100% focused on playing for Arsenal.”

In a lengthy statement Fabregas said: “I would like to apologise to all Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.

 

“I cannot deny joining a club like Barcleona was an attractive move for me. It is my home town and a club where I have always dreamed of playing.

“Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal. I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal’s prerogative not to sell me.

“I can assure all the fans that I will be 100% focused on playing for Arsenal. And as soon as I step out on that pitch that is the only club I will be thinking about.”

Fabregas’s statement failed to quash speculation that he will move to Barcelona sooner rather than later.

And Barca midfielder Xavi ungraciously said that the Catalans had “given up on the idea of him arriving now, but maybe he’ll come in January when Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race.”

Arsenal’s major summer signing thus far has been long-time target Marouane Chamakh, the Moroccan striker arriving at the Emirates on a free transfer from Bordeaux.

A top-class goalkeeper has been just as long-term a target for Wenger. And he appears to have at last found his man in experienced Fulham and former Middlesbrough custodian Marc Schwarzer.

The 37-year-old Schwarzer, the Socceroos’ World Cup goalkeeper, has reportedly handed in a transfer request, after Fulham rejected a £2m bid from the Gunners earlier in the summer.

Arsenal reportedly offered Schwarzer a player-coaching role at the Emirates. But Fulham slapped a £4m price tag on the Aussie net-minder last month and they have denied the transfer request reports.

New Fulham boss Mark Hughes also seems more determined still to keep Schwarzer in West London.

Former club captain William Gallas has been the subject of speculation over a move to Arsenal’s bitter North London rivals Tottenham, although the 33-year-old’s demands for a two-year contract are thought to have squashed that story.

Meanwhile, Everton defender Phil Jagielka has tried to do the same to stories linking him with a £16m+ move to Arsenal.

The 27-year-old England international said: “The gaffer (Everton boss David Moyes) has pulled me aside and told me I’m not going anywhere. I’m happy with that. I love playing for (Everton).”

So, watch this space.