Fabregas maintains he will always hold a special place in his heart for the Gunners, whom he joined as a raw teenager in 2003, but the 24-year-old admits uncertainly over the club’s short-term goals did play a part in his decision to leave.

Speaking to the latest issue of ’Sport’ magazine, he said: “I want to be in a club that is able to win the big titles year after year and I don’t see that kind of future for Arsenal.

“I still have many feelings for Arsenal, but I fear that they won’t be able to push the other big clubs in England away.

“If you look at the team this season I can’t see them finishing in front of teams like Manchester United or [Manchester] City, or Chelsea. There’s just too big a difference between the squads.

“I respect that Arsenal don’t have the same financial opportunities as the others, but it was part of my decision to leave that I find it hard to see Arsenal winning the Premier League or Champions League in the near future.”

Fabregas added: “I hope they will replace me and the others that have left with some quality players and maybe they can take Arsenal back to their level as champions.”