FABREGAS REFUTES RIFT WITH DENILSON

ARSENAL'S captain Cesc Fabregas has moved to dispel suggestions of a rift with fellow midfielder Denilson.

In an interview with Arsenal Brazil and published on Arseblog, the 22-year old revealed that he felt the Gunners “lack leadership,” claiming that “Fabregas is the captain, but he is not a leader to me.” However, the Spain World Cup winner has insisted that there was no disharmony within the Arsenal camp.

Fabregas wrote on his official Twitter account: “Abt (sic) what Deni said. I've been in his situation before, just a misunderstanding. Now lets win tonite! (sic).”

Fabregas also attached a picture of the duo as they travelled on the train up to Leeds for yesterday's FA Cup third-round replay, both players all smiles and giving the thumbs up. Denilson was expected to feature again at Elland Road, as Arsenal's coach Arsene Wenger rotates his squad.

It was the Brazilian that had given away a penalty to Leeds in the first tie 10 days ago. Fabregas kept the Gunners in the competition with a last-minute spot-kick of his own, and afterwards had given Denilson a dressing down for making such a clumsy challenge.

“They scored from a penalty that, at this stage when you are a professional footballer you can not give away this type of penalty so easily,” Fabregas said in his post-match TV interview.