Fabregas keen to emulate Vieira as 'legend'

"Patrick was a legend here and it is very difficult to compare someone with him," the Spaniard said. "I don't think there is going to be a new Patrick Vieira - Patrick is Patrick. But, of course, one day I would like to be a name like Patrick is. All the young lads at Arsenal are working to be one day like him. "

Arsène Wenger has shown great faith in Fabregas, Gilberto and Mathieu Flamini, and Fabregas was handed even greater responsibility in the midweek Champions' League tie in Amsterdam, forming a central partnership with Flamini, with Gilberto Silva and other senior players ruled out through injury.

"All the players who were missing are experienced, and you always need them, but I think we demonstrated we can cope without them if we have to," Fabregas said. "The confidence we can get from the result [a 2-1 win] is amazing and we're working really hard. This team are winners and showed that against Ajax."

Fabregas and Flamini should again be involved against Birmingham on Sunday, with Silva rated as having only a "small chance" of returning.