Arsène Wenger rejects Barcelona's moral claim to Cesc Fábregas

Arsène Wenger has claimed Barcelona should have "no bitterness" over the manner in which Arsenal signed Cesc Fábregas as a 16-year-old after the Catalan club's former president claimed repatriating the midfielder was a matter of "justice".

Before tonight's eagerly anticipated first leg in the Champions League last 16, Joan Laporta, who was Barcelona's president until last year and attempted to sign Fábregas last summer, accused Arsenal of "fishing" for their best talent before hinting that Barça will again try to sign the Gunners captain in the next transfer window. "It's an issue of justice, we now want to recover them," he said.

Wenger defended the way Fábregas was signed for nothing in 2003. Arsenal were later reported to have paid around £1m in compensation.

"It's part of the game," Wenger said. "Where do they get their players? Where does [Lionel] Messi come from? Barcelona? [Newell's Old Boys in Argentina] At what age did they take him? Twelve years old. There's no reason for any bitterness because we did nothing illegal. Everything was legal. We did not force a gun somewhere. We respected the rules. They could come and take our players, we accept that as well."

Laporta earlier said: "The English come here to do fishing. They came to fish for Gerard Piqué [the former Manchester United defender who has since returned to Barcelona] and Cesc."

But Wenger said: "They take their players from all over the world. Don't expect them only to get players from Catalonia. And you must remember that every young player in Catalonia wants to play for Barcelona. Not every young player in London wants to play for Arsenal. Some want to play for Tottenham, some for West Ham, some for Chelsea and some for QPR. In Barcelona they don't have the same choice."

Wenger, though, was full of praise for the ability of the current Barça side. "Barcelona are certainly the best team in the world at the moment," he said. "They're the best club team I've ever faced. And any club team at the top level is better than every national team. I would not deny this Barcelona are one of the best teams ever but my team wants to show we can beat them. I believe personally that we can do it. Barcelona are certainly the team to beat if you want to be the best. If we knock Barcelona out, we straightaway have a good chance to win the tournament. It is until now the toughest test for us in the European Cup."

Samir Nasri should start for Arsenal as the French playmaker has been in training since last week following a hamstring injury while Wojciech Szczesny, the 20-year-old Polish goalkeeper, makes his Champions League debut.

Wenger said: "It's a big game for him because you think that once or twice he may have to do something tomorrow. He's not fazed by anything, which is very important at the top level. He doesn't give you the feeling that he's nervous in goal."

Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 16 Feb 11