ARSENAL midfielder Cesc Fabregas has pleaded with boss Arsene Wenger to sign a midfield hardman. (The Sun)The 22-year-old Gunners skipper misses tough-tackling Mathieu Flamini who quit the Gunners last summer for AC Milan and has not been replaced.

ARSENAL midfielder Cesc Fabregas has pleaded with boss Arsene Wenger to sign a midfield hardman. (The Sun)

The 22-year-old Gunners skipper misses tough-tackling Mathieu Flamini who quit the Gunners last summer for AC Milan and has not been replaced.

The Spanish international said: “We are accustomed to playing alongside the likes of Patrick Vieira, Flamini and Gilberto Silva.

“Last season we were weak in this position which is so important, especially for teams like us.

“When we attack, it is vital to know someone is behind you to win the ball back.”

And the Fabregas believes Barcelona's Yaya Toure could be the man to fulfil that role. (Daily Star)

The 26-year-old brother of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure could be available this summer after contract talks at the Nou Camp broke down.

Yaya - who was linked with a move to Arsenal last season - is one of Barca's lowest paid outfield stars despite being the hero of their treble-winning season filling in at centre-half.

If Arsenal were not to get a midfield enforcer doubts would once again emerge as to whether Fabregas would seek a move back to Barcelona - the club he started at as a youngster.

According to the Daily Mail, Fabregas has admitted he would go back to Barcelona if coach Pep Guardiola made a move to sign him.

Speaking in South Africa, where last night he scored in Spain's demolition of New Zealand in the Confederations Cup, the midfielder also predicted Manchester United would struggle next season without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fabregas first repeated his desire to stay at the Emirates next season, saying: “I am happy at Arsenal and I want to win titles there. But these things are not necessarily up to me.

“I am happy that we made it to the Champions League semi-finals and, in general, things went well.”

But when asked about his schoolboy hero and now Barca coach Guardiola, Fabregas told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo: “If Guardiola called me it would be different. I would be delighted to go.

“Pep was a role model for me. I have always played in his position and that's why I first wore the No 4. He was my footballing hero when I was small.”

Fabregas, who left Barcelona for Arsenal in 2003, dismissed any suggestion that he would not get in the team because of the presence of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

“We have all played together for Spain before so I think there is always room for it to work,” he said.

Fabregas also said he was flattered by speculation linking him to AC Milan, adding: “It is a source of pride that a club with such a history takes an interest in you. It is a club that has always interested me since I was young.”