If, as rumblings suggest, Fabregas might stay, it will be a big victory for Wenger. Every summer one of our players is tapped up by a European club with too much money, few morals and no class. This year has been no exception.
The difference is, in the past, I think Wenger was ready to let every one of them go. And, a look back at some of the deals he cut for his star men reveal he's not the sort of bloke I'd ever buy a second-hand motor from...
Henry: Obviously one of the best players ever to don the white sleeves, in truth it was a wonder we kept TH14 as long as we did. In the end, a combination of Barca's persistence and a bit of trouble with the old lady drove him abroad. Having banked Arsenal's goals record, Wenger sold for a profit of £6m. Barca had great success in the Henry years, but despite a release clause of €125million, he watched much of it from the bench, making only 80 appearances before quitting football to join an American team. That works out at £200,000 a game. In truth, we may have got one more good year from TH14... but by that time he'd have been worth half what we sold him for. Wenger win.
Vieira: Vieira was courted every summer for 916 years before moving to Juve and then on to Inter. Wenger's defences held strong for 279 games, but he caved in when Inter delivered a cheque for 20m eurobobs. Four back-to-back Serie A titles and two cups came his way at Inter... but just 67 appearances (working out at £238,805 a game) show what a bit-part he was to that success. This would be a Wenger win... if only he'd bought a defensive midfielder to replace PV4. We're still waiting, Arsene.
Hleb: Hleb is married to Anastasia Kosenkova, an ex-singer of the Belarusian pop group 'Topless'. But that wasn't enough to stop him having his head turned by Barcelona. He believed his own hype, but Wenger didn't, so when they offered Wenger more than he'd paid for him, he let him go. He played 19 games. That's just shy of €1m per game. Wenger win.
Ljungberg: My favourite players to fail when they move on are the ones that really mouth off. Freddie was signed for £3m at the age of 21, scored vital and memorable goals, got ink poisoning from a tattoo that everyone thought was Aids and was sold to West Ham for £3m. Upon his departure, he said: "When I signed my last contract two years ago we talked about the future, building a new stadium and bringing in top players, but it didn't really happen. I am coming here to build a great team. Eggert Magnusson wants to take West Ham to the top of the country." 25 games later Ljungberg left and West Ham effectively went bust. They are yet to reach "the top of the country". Wenger win.
Overmars: Overmars signed for ₤5.5m in 2000. He also joined Barcelona (see a pattern here, can't you), and his ₤25m price tag made him the most expensive Dutch player of all time. However, his 95 games came at a cost of £252,525 a game before injury ended it all too early. He didn't win a single trophy at Barca. Wenger win.
Petit: If Overmars was a dodgy, patched-up second-hand motor, Petit was the free seat covers thrown in as part of the deal. Yet another player to be drawn to the bright lights of the Nou Camp, he only stood under them 23 times before leaving for pre-Abramovich Chelsea. He said in his autobiography that coach Llorenç Serra Ferrer didn't even know what position he played. I didn't know "the bench" was an official position. Wenger win.
Toure: Kolo's sale was one of my favourites because if you look at the facts it's ridiculous. Bought for £150k as a right winger, Wenger turned him into a centreback after allegedly waking one night with a vision of Kolo in the number 5 shirt. For several years we had one of the best centre backs in the country. Then he turned crap and had a dreadful season and a half. Manchester City received an open chequebook from ArabbanksRus, so Wenger phoned them up, told them they could have for £16m and done the deal. Would you rather have Toure or Thomas Vermaelen plus £6m? Wenger win.
Anelka: Nasty Nic - the man who started it all off. As with Fabregas, I think AW really wanted to keep Anelka. However, his brothers are his agents and only get paid a commission when he moves clubs - hence Anelka has played for Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Lyon, Manchester City, Fenerbahçe, Paris Saint-Germain (twice) and, er, Bolton - and is still only 31. With a terrible temperament, Wenger sold the Incredible Sulk for 46 times what he paid for him, banked £13.5m and spent £10m on Thierry Henry. Wenger win.
Cesc Fabregas: 'Stolen' from Barca on a free. TBC...
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