Fabregas: I've learned my lesson, so no more Mr Nice Guy

The 20-year-old combative midfielder has developed a fierce partnership alongside Mathieu Flamini at the heart of the Gunners side this season.

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Seven goals from the opening nine games saw the Spaniard claim centre stage as Arsene Wenger's young squad emerged from the shadow of Thierry Henry, who was sold to Barcelona during the summer.

Arsenal manager Wenger believes Fabregas has been through a steep learning curve, with his work ethic now attracting the headlines rather than his sometimes overly-tenacious approach.

Fabregas, though, insisted he has happy to just be part of a successful team, rather than the centre of attention.

"I have grown up a lot since I joined Arsenal, but especially in the last year. Defensively I feel much more responsible," Fabregas said, speaking to the March issue of the Official Arsenal Magazine.

"It is true that before, I was playing more for myself, a little bit individually to see if people were talking about me. Maybe I wanted to show more of my own stuff, but now I don't care. It is completely different.

"I realise I am playing more for the team. If I'm not man of the match, if I'm not player of the month anymore I don't care, because I know I'm doing extra positive things for the team and now that gives me the most pleasure."

Fabregas continued: "I think you are not going to see the Cesc who always tries to do nice things anymore. Now if I have to defend for 90 minutes for the team then I will do it.

"If I don't get credit for it, then I don't mind at all because all I want now is to win the title and to celebrate that at the end of the season with my team mates."

Fabregas revealed the inspiration for his renewed focus had come from other members of the squad, which Wenger believes has the potential to be the best he has worked with at London Colney.

"I realised a few things through speaking to some of the players in training, and also seeing the hunger of the players," Fabregas said.

"That gives you more power as well, knowing that there are people like you who really want to win things. Everything comes together. The manager as well tells me that he expects more from me - I want to give everything for the club."

Fabregas also admitted that Mathieu Flamini, who has kept Brazil captain Gilberto on the bench, has helped him develop different aspects of his game.

The 23-year-old Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season after negotiations over wages, reported to be of around £50,000-a-week, are said to be at an impasse and Juventus are believed to be monitoring the situation.

For the moment, however, the midfielder is going nowhere and Fabregas believes he and Flamini can provide Arsenal with a winning combination at the heart of the side.

"Flamini has helped me a lot in the defensive side of my game," Fabregas added.

"The way he defends, his passion for the game, sometimes he makes me realise that I have to help out defensively. If the right-back goes forward then I have to stay back, or cover the centre-back."

The Arsenal players, deeply shocked by the horrific leg injury to striker Eduardo at St Andrews, returned to full training yesterday and will now regroup ahead of the game against top-six hopefuls Aston Villa on Saturday before the second leg of their Champions League clash with AC Milan.

While Eduardo - set to be out for at least nine months - continues to undergo treatment for his fractured leg and dislocated ankle.

The Brazilian-born player has been visited by members of the Croatian Football Association.

President Vlatko Markovic said: "It is a very difficult time for the Croatia national team, to lose a player who has scored so many goals for Euro 2008 qualification. The whole game is built around him.

"All of Croatia has been wrapped in black. Not just as a football player, but as a person Eduardo is close to our hearts."

Meanwhile, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov maintains his Red and White Holdings company has no "further plans" to obtain more than a 25% stake in Arsenal.

Earlier this month, Red & White - fronted by former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein - increased their stock to just over 24%.

Usmanov's interest precipitated a 'lock-down' agreement by the Gunners board, which meant the Uzbek-born metals magnate cannot launch a formal takeover bid at this moment.