Cesc Fabregas has won numerous plaudits for his form this season but being compared to Michel Platini is surely one of the greatest so far.
Arsène Wenger made the connection on the eve of the Champions League tie with Sevilla at Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal manager believes the perception of his protégé is akin to the French midfield master from the 70s and 80s. However they have different footballing instincts.
“His vision is comparable to Platini,” said Wenger, “and that is a compliment. He is at the start of his career and we know that Platini has finished his. Cesc has it all in front of him, but he has a vision and he will develop still more.
“However Platini was more of a striker and Cesc is more of a midfielder. He is adding that element to his game but Platini had that striker mentality. He could stay quiet for a game then think ‘I will score a goal’.
“Cesc is a guy who likes to be at the heart of things. He will never say before the game against, say, Liverpool ‘I will touch the ball only four times but I will give one ball to score and score one myself’. Cesc wants to get the ball out from the back and play.
“It is not the same position and not the same psychology.”