ARSENE WENGER has sent out a clear message to Real Madrid and Barcelona - Cesc Fabregas will still be an Arsenal player next season.
The Gunners boss was categorical in confirming that his skipper will be staying in North London beyond this summer.
Speculation has intensified as reports from Spain claim Wenger has a pact with Fabregas that he can leave at the end of the season.
But Wenger said: "Yes, Cesc will be an Arsenal player on October 1, 2010.
"Why not? We've no intention to sell and he has a long-term contract.
"Contrary to what people say, he has a longer contract than you think."
Barcelona and Real Madrid are in the hunt for the midfield superstar, whose contract runs until 2015.
The Catalan giants have a slight edge as Fabregas was born there and learned his trade at the Barca academy before moving to Arsenal in 2003.
Yet Madrid president Florentino Perez is making Fabregas his No 1 target for next summer.
And Perez has a fierce reputation when it comes to getting his man - having lured most of the world's major stars to the Bernabeu in his two stints as president during the last decade.
But Wenger snapped: "The speculation comes from Spain, not here. We've always had the same speech about that.
"What they speak about in Madrid or Barcelona, how can we influence that?
"If one day we want to sell a player - and those clubs are interested - they can call us.
"They don't need to go through a newspaper. We're not ready to sell any of our players."
Fabregas, 22, will miss today's clash against Everton with a hamstring problem.
But Wenger insists that Arsenal have the chance to make history after storming back into the title race just over a month since losing to Chelsea at home.
He said: "We go for trophies. For the moment, we're in a position where we can achieve that.
"We're not guided by fear of not achieving. We're guided by excitement, desire and ambition. We want to go for it.
"You can be proud of your season when you come out and say you went as far as you could and gave everything.
"This team has given everything in every single game and, at the moment, we're achieving it. We have a good chance to achieve trophies."
Arsenal could have closed the gap at the top to just one point had they beaten Bolton but Wednesday's match was called off because of bad weather.
Now as the ice, snow and freezing temperatures continue to grip the nation, Wenger is desperate for the clash with Everton to go ahead.
Otherwise Arsenal will face a messy backlog of games.
He said: "We tried everything to play. The fixtures are a nightmare.
"To find reasonable dates to reschedule is difficult.
"Hopefully we can play this weekend.
"We don't want a break. We have good momentum and don't want to interrupt that.
"But, maybe, the midweek break was a little help to recover from some knocks and bruises."
Wenger also gave his blessing to the "marriage" between ex-Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira and Manchester City.
He said: "For me, he has made the right choice.
"City have made the right choice. It should be a good marriage.
"I thought about bringing him back but we had players like Alexandre Song coming through.
"To give them a chance, it's vital noone steps in front of them."
Everton boss David Moyes hopes today's game goes ahead, too, so he avoids making a second abortive trip to London in a week.
He got halfway to the capital to watch the Gunners against Bolton before the game was called off.
He said: "I was one of the few that was close to the Emirates and didn't get there.
"I got to Milton Keynes, so I don't know if I'll get a refund."
Today's clash brings back memories of Everton's opening-day 6-1 drubbing by the Gunners.
Yet Moyes is convinced Wenger's men will be facing a far different side at the Emirates.
He added: "It was real blow to us, but for half-an-hour it could have gone either way.
"Then they scored a couple of goals from free-kicks - and it went from bad to worse.
"It wasn't a good day and I do think it had a lasting effect at that time.
"Of course, it's always difficult when you play one of the top teams, but we're finding our form a bit and maybe can surprise them."
Moyes also insisted he is confident striker Louis Saha - who is out of contract in the summer - will agree fresh terms to stay at Goodison.
On-loan Manchester City star Jo - who was suspended by the club after taking an unscheduled Christmas break in his native Brazil - will also return to training on Monday.
