World Cup winner Fabregas was a youth player at Barca before moving to the English Premier League club in September 2003 and the player has made it clear he wants to return to the Catalan capital.
Local media reported on Monday that Barca’s new president, Sandro Rosell, would travel to London this week to try to strike a deal but Guardiola was downbeat about the chances of success.
“I think that getting Cesc will cost a lot,” Guardiola told a news conference at the club’s training ground on the outskirts of the city.
“He is an important player for Arsenal,” he added. “We want him to come but if Arsenal don’t want to negotiate he won’t.”
Barca, who have already added Spain striker David Villa and versatile Brazilian midfielder Adriano Correia to their squad, have about 40 million euros ($52 million) more to spend on players, club officials have indicated.
As well as Fabregas, who is more of a playmaker, they would probably need to buy a holding central midfielder to replace the Manchester City-bound Yaya Toure.
Asked about the possibility of Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaving, Guardiola said he wanted the Swedish striker to stay but it was up to the player to decide.
Mexico captain Rafael Marquez was in the same situation, the coach added.
Ten of Barca’s first-team squad began pre-season training on Monday, with internationals including Andres Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique still on holiday.

Source: Reuters

Already goals have been scored in the five games out of eight games with the most thrilling match being that of Marseille versus Real Madrid.

Marseille 1-3 Real Madrid

Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo opened the score for the visitors in the 5th minute. However, six minutes later Lucho equalized for the French team. Raul Albiol gives his team the lead right on the hour mark!

Ronaldo adds another for Madrid.

Chelsea 2-2 Apoel Nicosia

Apoel Nicosia scored through Marcin Zewlakow in the 6th minute. The home team levelled in the 19th minute through Michael Essien and later took the lead from a Drogba(26′) goal. Apoel level in the dying minutes from a Nenad Mirosavljevic goal.

Juventus 1-4 Bayern Munich

Like the other matches played in the Champions League, Juventus took the lead in the 19th minute after Trezeguet scored. The Germans came from a goal down to level from a 30th minute penalty, converted by Jans-Jorg Butt.

After the break Olic gives Munich the lead.

Munich have gone back to their winning ways, after being 1-0 down they made a comeback to finish with four.

Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Bordeaux

Jussie brought Bordeaux on the scoreboard with a 13th minute goal.

Besiktas 1-2 CSKA Moscow

Milos Krasic netted a goal right before half time to give his team an advantage before the break. The final minutes of the match got interesting after Bobo(86′) equalized for Besiktas but Evgeni Aldonin scored the winner for CSKA Moscow in the 90th minute of the match. A very close finish for Moscow.

VfL Wolfsburg 1-3 Manchester United

Michael Owen helped Man U secure the lead minutes before the break.

Manchester United and Arsenal’s transfer target- Edin Dzeko scores for Wolfsburg, to get them level with United.

Michael Owen scores a hatrick and secures a comfortable lead for Man U.

Atletico Madrid 0-3 FC Porto

Bruno Alves has become a scoring defender, netting one for his country in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers and now getting one in the second minute of the match. His goal was followed by Falcao in the 14th minute.

Chelsea target Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan need to come to the party.

Hulk adds the third for Porto.

Zurich 1-1 AC Milan

Milan trail Zurich after Milan Gajic gets a goal.

A 64th minute Ronaldinho penalty saved Milan.

Bottom placed Portsmouth played well to earn a victory over Burnley. It was the first match for Avram Grant as Portsmouth manager, and it was a delightful welcome for him.

Brunley squandered quite a few opportunities to go ahead and will surely regret the missed chances.

Portsmouth didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. Portsmouth had a great chance to go one-up from a penalty but Dindane managed to miss it. However, later in the game he scored adding to the lead given to the home team through Hermann Hreidarsson’s brilliant left-footer.

Portsmouth are now temporarily off the bottom place.

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool earn another frustrating draw. The first half had nothing interesting happening. Both teams evenly matched up until the break.

At the start of the second half Blackburn had some great opportunities, through Chelesa’s loan signing- Di Santo. The youngster played well.

Liverpool also had decent opportunites, the most tlling one being a terrific run by Glenn Johnson to put N’gog on goal, but N’gog somehow skewed the shot on the top-bar. The rebound was hit off target.

Liverpool surely looked like they were missing Torres, The Reds were just unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

Wonder why Benitez wasn’t looking to bring Aquiliani on as a substitute, Nabil El Zhar was brought in as a late substitute.

Blackburn were also suffering from some kind of jitters in front of goal, like their counterparts. They also had numerous opportunities to seal the deal, but were unsuccessful.

Although Blackburn will be happy to gain a point after a rigorous mid-week game.

West Ham 0-4 Manchester United

It was a thumping win for the defending champions. Scholes opened the score just before half-time.

Wonder kid- Darron Gibbson scored another glorious strike just over the hour mark and added to the lead.

The Hammers had decent chances as well but couldn’t convert. Diamanti had an awesome shot on goal, but Kuzczak pulled an even better save.

Two quick goals were scored by Valencia and Rooney which took the match away from the home team.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City

Prior to the match Arshavin had stated that Arsenal were missing Van Persie upfront and also some tall statured players(Arshavin himself being around 5′ 8″).

Arshavin looked lively on the field and managed to win a penalty after forcing an error from Delap. Skipper Fabregas came up to take the spot-kick but Sorensen saved it.

Arshavin scored another brilliant goal from a Fabregas cross.

Ramsey scored the second to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Wigan 2-3 Birmingham

Wigan took the lead in the first half through N’Zogbia’s 33rd minute strike.

Sebastian Larsson equalized for the visitors in the 61st minute and five minutes later Christian Benitez gave Birmingham the lead. Later Larsson extended the lead by scoring his second goal in the game.

Jordi Gomez pulled one back late in the match, but it was just too late for the homeside.

Until today’s loss, Wigan were undefeated at home after leading 1-0.

Aston Villa 3-0 Hull

Villa scored early in the game through Richard Dunne from a Milner assist. 15 minutes later Milner celebrated his own strike and also Villa’s 2-0 lead.

Aston Villa kept attacking Hull City, they won a penalty which was taken by Carew.

Wolves 2-1 Bolton

The fastest goal of the day was scored by Wolverhampton’s Jody Carddock in the 3rd minute.

Nenad Milijas added to the lead. Bolton struck a late goal through Johan Elmander.

Both sides looked to attack but the game ended 2-1 to Wolves.

Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea

The final match of the day was the most exhilirating encounter. Both sides were looking to attack from kick-off.

Chelsea took the lead when Anelka’s shot could have been saved by Given, but unfortunately the ball bounced into the net off Adebayor back. Adebayor took revenge later in the half, scoring from a corner.

The second half got into a high-tempo mode. Both sides were driving players forward and referee came into action many-a-times producing yellow cards and giving free-kicks. Chelsea and Man City had good chances, Chelsea didn’t manage to capitilize. City were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, which was wonderfully converted by Tevez to give City the lead.

Drogba won a penalty for Chelsea after drawing a foul from Onuoha, late in the game. Given came to City’s rescue by saving Lampard’s penalty and thus ensuring a win for Man City.

Shay Given saves Lampard's penalty

City’s Micah Richards and Wayne Bridge both seemed to be injured, Bridge was carried off on a stretcher after a sliding tackle from Belletti. Chelsea’s Terry also limped off late in the second half.

Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan

Pique puts Barca ahead in the 10th minute and Pedro added another in the 26th minute.

Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool

David N’gog nudges in the ball from Fabio Aurelio’s corner, in the 4th minute.

Liverpool won’t be too thrilled even after leading at half-time, since Fiorentina have taken the lead against Lyon. This squanders “The Reds” chances of going to the next round.

Fiorentina 1-0 Lyon

Juan Manuel Vargas smashes in a penalty at Stadio Artemio Franchi. The score is now 1 – 0.

AZ 0-0 Olympiacos

The score remains all square at half-time.

Arsenal 2-0 Standard

The Gunners take the lead at home through Samir Nasri, followed by Denilson, to extend their lead.

Sevilla 0-1 Unirea

Sevilla’s Ivica Dragutinovic heads into his own goal.

Rangers 0-2 VfB Stuttgart

Sebastian Rudy(16′) scores for Stuttgart.  Zdravko Kuzmanovic heads in to extend VfB Stuttgart’s lead at Ibrox.

Tottenham Skipper - Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane made a bold statement- that Tottenham have a squad that is at least the equal of Arsenal’s. Tottenham have not defeated Arsenal in almost a decade, a run of 19 matches without a win.

Last season Arsenal 4 Tottenham 4

Interesting Facts

• Tottenham have not beaten the hosts in the Premier League since November 1999 and have not won a league encounter at Arsenal since May 1993

• Arsenal have conceded 13 goals so far this season, their worst ever defensive record in the Premier League after nine matches

• David Bentley has not scored a league goal since opening the scoring for Tottenham against his old club in this fixture last season

• If the hosts win this match they will claim their 1,000th Premier League point with Arsène Wenger as manager

Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia could be set for a recall to the starting line-up for the derby with Tottenham. Several changes will be made from the young side who beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup. Lukasz Fabianski (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott (both knee) miss out. Samir Nasri is likely to be on the bench tomorrow, he had earlier started in the mid-week League Cup clash against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg.

Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe serves the final part of his three-match suspension and will miss the match. Aaron Lennon (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (ankle) and Luka Modric (fractured leg) are also out but Peter Crouch has recovered from a groin problem. Carlo Cudicini (knee) and centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate (head) and Ledley King (illness) should be available and Niko Kranjcar is back after being cup-tied.

Arsenal (possible team): Mannone, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Eboué, Song, Fábregas, Diaby, Arshavin, Van Persie, Almunia, Eduardo, Vela, Gibbs, Silvestre, Wilshere, Ramsey, Bendtner.

Tottenham (possible team) : Gomes, Cudicini, Button, Hutton, Naughton, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Woodgate, King, Bassong, Dawson, Huddlestone, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Bentley, Keane, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko.

Puyol thinks its time to test himself abroad and what better place to do so than the Premier League. The veteran has admitted that he admires the pace and physical nature of the League and believes it is a perfect fit with his style.

Arsenal could have finished with a higher goal tally, they played some memorizing football led by Captain Fabregas. The Gunners’ skipper was  involved in all goals, before being substituted and had another marvelous game.

Arsenal were put in front by Arshavin after being behind Blackburn twice during the half-time, the score reading Arsenal 3 – 2 Blackburn.

These were the only goals to be scored by Blackburn for the day, after the break it was an Arsenal onslaught! Although Blackburn had decent chances to bring the deficit down.

Barcelona’s Thierry Henry watched from the stands.

David Dunn was brought down in the penalty area by Vermalen but no penalty was awarded to Blackburn.

Cesc Fabregas added another goal(57′), after leaving keeper Robinson wrong footed. It was the third time in a row Arsenal have scored 4 against Blackburn.

Benny McCarthy came on for David Dunn but suffered a niggle and was off after around 15 minutes on the pitch. In came Hoilett and almost scored for Blackburn if it weren’t for the post.

The Gunners played good attacking football, as the scoreline suggests and were a joy to watch.

Theo Walcott looked in touch, coming back after an injury.

Bendtner added the sixth goal from a Ramsey pass.

Tugay could only watch his former team fall further behind, from the stands.

In the post-match interview when asked about kissing the Arsenal emblem after scoring Cesc Fabregas said:

“There has been some speculation, I’m committed 100% to the club, in my 7th season. I was trying to show I really love this club.”

Chelsea 2 – 0 Liverpool

Anelka, Drogba, Ballack all have opportunities on goal, but were unable to convert during the first half. The deadlock couldn’t be broken by either side at half time.

Nicholas Anelka tapped-in the ball at the hour mark, after Liverpool gave the ball away and the Blues broke away with Drogba.

Liverpool had chances especially in the dying minutes of the game, with both Benayoun and Gerrard missing good opportunities. Chelsea held on and managed to score another through Malouda, once again from a Drogba assist.

The Reds have lost their second match in a row, earlier losing to Fiorentina in the Champions League.

The victory has put Chelsea ahead of Manchester United by 2 points, on top of the table.

Ngog scored in the 66th minute at Elland Road. However, Liverpool struggled to take control of the game without the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and other regulars.

Arsenal also found it difficult facing the League Championship leaders West Brom, even though the visitors were down to 10 men after the first-half dismissal of Jerome Thomas.

Thomas was sent off in the 37th minute for slapping Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere in the face after a challenge. Thomas went to shake Wilshere’s hand but he refused and Thomas was outraged, which led to him to be red-carded.

Carlos Vela was sent in as a substitute midway through the second half and and he effected the first goal for the homeside. Minutes later Mark Randall hit the bar and Vela took advantage of a mix up between keeper Kiely and defender Leon Barnett to tap the ball in.

Arsenal Vs West Brom, Carling Cup

In other thrilling matches: Barnsley upset Burnley 3-2, Stoke came back from two goal deficit versus Blackpool to beat them 4-3. Portsmouth featuring at the bottom of the premiership table, had a disastrous start against Hartlepool conceding within the first three minutes, but managed to pull off a 3-1 victory. Sunderland ousted Birmingham 2-0, goals by Jordan Henderson and Fraizer Campbell. Bolton beat West Ham 3-1 in extra time even after trailing until the 86th minute. Kevin Davies headed the equalizer, followed by goals from Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander in the extra time. Blackburn won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest cheers to Benni McCarthy. Relegated Premier League side, Newcastle lost hopes of securing a trophy this season by losing to Peterborough.

Tuesday’s Cup Results:

Arsenal 2-0 West Brom
Barnsley 3-2 Burnley
Bolton 3-1 West Ham (aet)
Carlisle 1-3 Portsmouth
Leeds 0-1 Liverpool
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Blackburn
Peterborough 2-0 Newcastle
Scunthorpe 2-0 Port Vale (aet)
Stoke 4-3 Blackpool
Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham

Wednesday’s Fixtures:

19:45 Aston Villa vs Cardiff City
19:45 Chelsea vs Queens Park Rangers
19:45 Hull City vs Everton
19:45 Preston North End vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:00 Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:00 Manchester City vs Fulham

Both teams had to cope with injuries to key players; Robinho and Carlos Tevez were both ruled out due to ankle and knee injuries, respectively. For Arsenal, Andrei Arshavin had to sit out because of a groin injury he suffered during Russia’s World Cup 2010 qualifier against Wales. Arshavin was sad to miss out this week’s Premier League match but was proud to play for his country.

Micah Richards’  header hit the post and then went in by hitting keeper Manuel Almunia’s head, counting as an own goal. Most of the match was dominated by Arsenal but they failed to make any headway. Dutchman Robin Van Persie scored the equalizer for Arsenal in the 62nd minute. A few minutes later Craig Bellamy once again gave City the lead. Adebayor scored the third goal and sprinted the whole length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. A chair was shown in his direction as was a yellow card. Shaun Wright-Phillips added to the tally scoring the fourth goal, however, Arsenal did not give up and managed to score a second through Tomas Rosicky(87′). They came close to pulling another goal back with a sweet strike from Van Persie which sadly came back off the goal post.

Other results for the day

Blackburn Rovers    3-1    Wolverhampton Wanderers
Liverpool    4-0    Burnley
Manchester City    4-2    Arsenal
Portsmouth    2-3    Bolton Wanderers
Stoke City    1-2    Chelsea
Sunderland    4-1    Hull City
Wigan Athletic    1-0    West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur    1-3    Manchester United