On top form

　　ARSENAL is at the top of the tree in the early days of this year's English Premier League (英超). Who should the team thank? Cesc Fabregas is the key to the team's early success. The young star from Spain is the fans' new hero.

　　Fabregas has slowly been getting better and better over the last two seasons. Now the 20-year-old is playing with real maturity (成熟). He's scored 5 goals in just the first six games. That's more than he got in the whole of last season.

　　Last week, his manager, Arsene Wenger, compared him to Michel Platini (普拉蒂尼), the great French midfielder. Platini is now president of UEFA (欧洲足球联盟).

　　"He thinks like Platini," said Wenger of Fabregas. "But Platini would play quietly for most of a game, then think, 'I will score a goal'. Cesc is the guy who likes to be at the heart of things."

　　Fabregas himself is really encouraged by the way he's playing. He says the team must keep winning. They have to keep up their early good form all season.

　　"We're on a good run but have to keep going. It's just the beginning," he said.

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　　Name: Cesc Fabregas

　　Born: May 4, 1987, Spain

　　Position: midfielder

　　Height: 175cm

　　Weight: 67kg