Cesc Fabregas'S impact on Arsenal since returning from injury could hardly have been more satisfying and explosive.

His calm, authoritative play in a more advanced role in front of two defensive midfielders has set up four goals for Emmanuel Adebayor and Mikael Silvestre in only three matches against Manchester City, Villarreal and Wigan.

But it seems that, although the Gunners captain is happy to be back after what feels “like two years out”, he's not convinced by the Steven Gerrard-style role which Arsene Wenger clearly thinks he's capable of performing behind a single striker.

In fact, Fabregas argues that he's too slow and not strong or nimble enough for the position and would much rather be playing as one of two central players in a midfield four.

“In this role behind the striker, it's true that you have a little more freedom and slightly fewer defensive duties,” said the 21-year-old who will lead Arsenal out at the Emirates tonight against Villarreal in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

“I think my better position is a little further back in the middle of a four-man midfield. I'm not quick, nor strong or agile enough to play that high up the pitch in my opinion.

“From the centre of midfield I think my strengths are my passing and having a creative vision.

“You have to approach the game differently when you are higher up the pitch and you have to receive the ball with your back to goal.”

Fabregas will be deployed in the same role against Villarreal with the teams starting the match tied at 1-1 and, although Wenger admitted it was not a plan he has been waiting to hatch, the Arsenal manager is intent on persisting with the formation.

The Gunners boss said: “I just adapt my thinking according to the personnel available and the game we are playing. Sometimes when we play away it gives us a bit more security.

“Our approach in a home game is to win. It has to be as simple as that because I don't feel we are used to trying to play for a 0-0 draw.

“Of course, we will be disciplined but when we have the ball we want to score goals as well.”

He may not like the role but Fabregas would never refuse to play anywhere he was asked to by Wenger and is just delighted to be back in the team after so long out.

“My knee is much better than I'd expected it to be at this stage,” said Fabregas. “After nearly four months out, I'd lost all that sensation of playing top-quality competitive football.

“Right now I feel as if I was out for two years. But from day one back in full training with the team, I felt really good and, after three games, my confidence is returning as well.”

That has led to talk that he will return to his native country in the summer and link up with Real Madrid and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso whose collision with Fabregas put his Spanish team-mate out earlier in the season.

For now, though, Fabregas does not want to contemplate leaving Emirates Stadium.

He said: “All I want to do is get on with playing football because it feels so brilliant to be back and I don't want any talk about bids from Spain distracting me or the team. Sure, it was great going back to Spain last week to play against Villarreal.
“You feel the heat and the atmosphere of the Spanish crowds and it's just a reminder that I adore football in my home country. Xabi has phoned me constantly since the injury. I don't know about Real Madrid's interest in the pair of us and I don't chat to Xabi about such things.

“What I can say is that I'd love to play alongside him in club football one day, obviously.
“He's a great friend and although he eventually stayed at Liverpool last season there was this possibility of him coming to Arsenal because the club were after him.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in 23 European home games of which the last four contained clean sheets and are strong favourites to progress tonight.

But in Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente, Villarreal have forwards with the ability to expose what will be a makeshift Arsenal rearguard.

Silvestre is expected to partner Kolo Toure at the heart of defence with Kieran Gibbs playing at left-back, but Wenger could easily drop Alex Song into centre-half and push Silvestre wide to deputise for the injured Gael Clichy.