By John Cross

Cesc Fabregas has urged Robin van Persie to stay at Arsenal – just a year after he quit to join Barcelona.

Spain midfielder Fabregas says he remains an Arsenal fan and wants van Persie to help them win trophies rather than leave this summer.

It might make Arsenal fans smile as Fabregas had several summer-long transfer sagas as he was desperate to join his boyhood heroes Barcelona and eventually got his wish last year.

Fabregas told a Catalan newspaper: “As an Arsenal fan I would be happy if he stayed in London to help Arsenal win titles.”

Arsenal are facing another transfer saga in their battle to keep van Persie as Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus are in for him while Real Madrid and Barcelona are watching developments.

Arsenal have offered van Persie a deal worth £130,000-a-week plus a £5m signing-on fee and may hold him to the final year of his contract.

Ex-Arsenal captain Fabregas also insisted that Gareth Bale – who is on Barca’s wish list – should be seen as a winger rather than an attacking full back even for Barcelona’s cavalier attitude.

Fabregas added: “People talks about him as a lateral defender (full back) but I think he is more of a winger than a lateral player.”