Cesc reveals French culture at Arsenal

Former captain says the club is "more French than English"

By Brian Lofrumento | 8th November 2012

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has told reporters that he had to learn French just to be able to converse with his teammates at Arsenal. According to the Barcelona midfielder, a large portion of the French and African contingency at the Emirates converse in French, and revealed that the club culture relies heavily on speaking manager Arsene Wenger’s native tongue.

In addition to discussing the language barrier, Fabregas accused the club of being more “French than English.”

“To speak English is important nowadays. I also learnt French,” Fabregas revealed. “I had no choice. Arsenal are more a French side than an English side in the sense that Frenchmen and African do not speak English between them.”

“To learn French was the only way for me to understand what was said and also to reply to those who mocked me.”

The makeup of the Gunners squad has changed considerably since Fabregas’s days at the club, however, as a more Spanish and English contingency has broken through. Spaniards such as Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla have given the London club more Spanish flair, while the breakthrough of English players such as Carl Jenkinson and Jack Wilshere have boosted the club’s local ranks.