Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has insisted that it is unfair to compare him to former Gunner Cesc Fabregas.
Arteta moved to the Emirates Stadium from Everton in August, just weeks after fellow Spaniard Fabregas had left for boyhood club Barcelona.
Despite similarities in positions and nationalities, Arteta claims that he was not a direct replacement for the World Cup winner.
"Cesc wasn't the same player in his first season as in his last, so how can anyone expect me to be the Cesc Fabregas of last season in my first?" Arteta told the Evening Standard. "It's not fair.
"I knew because everybody was saying to me, 'Mikel, you are going to go to Arsenal and it's going to be really tough for you because you are going to be under so much pressure. Cesc is leaving, [Samir] Nasri is leaving, the team are not doing well'.
"But I said, 'I don't care, I want to go to Arsenal. Arsenal are the club I have to play for'."
Arsene Wenger's side make the short trip to London neighbours Queens Park Rangers later today.
Jack Prescott
