Furious Fabregas compares Ipswich to a rugby team after Carling Cup misery
Cesc Fabregas has compared Ipswich's style of play to that of a rugby team after Arsenal were surprisingly beaten in the Carling Cup.
The Gunners went down 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Wednesday night following Tamas Priskin's solitary strike in the second half.
Arsenal were well below their best and created few chances against a side who were hammered 7-0 by Chelsea at the weekend.
But Arsenal's talismanic captain insists his side played well, and were the victims of a side who weren't 'prepared to play football.'
'I don't know if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick but it worked for them,' Fabregas said.
'In England, a lot of teams play like that and it works for them, they create chances like that and it is their football. We just have to put the ball on the floor and try to play football.
'Credit to them because they played well but Arsenal played the football, the other team refused to play football, they were lucky to score with a long ball.
'Still, we played well. We were good enough but just did not put the ball in the back of the net. I can remember only two opportunities for them but it was from a long, long ball because when they were playing football they could not really get in behind us.
'It is a disappointing because we were the much better team but it was one of those nights.'
Ipswich travel to the Emirates for the return leg on January 25, and Fabregas insists it will be a different proposition as Arsenal endeavour to end their trophy drought.
'Here they play in front of their fans, they are more motivated, the pitch is not as good as Stamford Bridge, so they play their game,' Fabregas added.
'They know how to do it and did it very well, so credit to them. Now we will see how they cope at the Emirates against us.
'Once you are in the semi-final, you have to go for it with your best players. We played with our best players. We did not win but it is half-time.
'We still have to go to the Emirates and we are confident that we can do it there.'
The Gunners went down 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Wednesday night following Tamas Priskin's solitary strike in the second half.
Fighting back: Fabregas compared Ipswich's style of play to a rugby team following Arsenal's Carling Cup defeat
But Arsenal's talismanic captain insists his side played well, and were the victims of a side who weren't 'prepared to play football.'
'I don't know if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick but it worked for them,' Fabregas said.
On target: Priskin celebrates following his 78th-minute strike
'Credit to them because they played well but Arsenal played the football, the other team refused to play football, they were lucky to score with a long ball.
'Still, we played well. We were good enough but just did not put the ball in the back of the net. I can remember only two opportunities for them but it was from a long, long ball because when they were playing football they could not really get in behind us.
Ready for revenge: Fabregas insists Arsenal will overturn the deficit at the Emirates
Ipswich travel to the Emirates for the return leg on January 25, and Fabregas insists it will be a different proposition as Arsenal endeavour to end their trophy drought.
'Here they play in front of their fans, they are more motivated, the pitch is not as good as Stamford Bridge, so they play their game,' Fabregas added.
'They know how to do it and did it very well, so credit to them. Now we will see how they cope at the Emirates against us.
'Once you are in the semi-final, you have to go for it with your best players. We played with our best players. We did not win but it is half-time.
'We still have to go to the Emirates and we are confident that we can do it there.'
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