Fabregas calls for Arsenal fight

Cesc Fabregas has warned his Arsenal FC team-mates to expect Real Madrid CF's best performance of the season at Highbury tonight.

Derby joy
The Spanish side travel to north London aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit after being outplayed in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie. The defeat stunned the nine-time European champions, and the sense of unrest was exacerbated by last week's departure of president Florentino Pérez. The team rallied at the weekend, however, beating city rivals Club Atlético de Madrid 2-1, and Fabregas believes there could be more to come this evening.

'Improved morale'
"Madrid were in poor health when we played them," he told uefa.com. "I am 100 per cent sure they will produce a better performance. They won the Madrid derby and that will give them more confidence and improved morale." Those are two things the 18-year-old is thriving on at the moment. He made an eye-catching international debut for Spain against Ivory Coast last week, following up with a goal in Arsenal's 4-0 victory at Fulham FC on Saturday.

Home advantage
Another one tonight could help the Premiership outfit secure their passage to the last eight, and Fabregas argues that home advantage should count for more than the obvious. "Playing at Highbury is an advantage because our pitch is smaller than the Santiago Bernabéu," he said. "It also helps because we are used to it. But that must not become a big issue because it won't matter what pitch we play on if we don't produce a top performance."

'Big game'
Arsenal certainly did that in the first encounter, as Thierry Henry's superb second-half strike proved enough to see off a lacklustre Madrid. "We did exactly what we had planned to do in the first leg," he continued. "It was a big game and it was fantastic to win. We were very focused. Madrid just didn't seem as dangerous a team as they normally do. They allowed us to take the initiative."

Pivotal encounter
The midfielder expects a very different proposition in the English capital, however, and with the two sides' hopes of domestic silverware all but over, the game is pivotal for both their campaigns. "It's the most important match of the season for both teams. No question," said Fabregas, an ever-present in the UEFA Champions League this term. "Madrid are sure to produce their best performance of the year."

Forward threat
Much will depend on the visitors' attack. Madrid coach Juan Ramón López Caro must decide whether to stick with Antonio Cassano - man of the match against Atlético - or recall Ronaldo. Fit-again captain Raúl González is also pushing for a place, and Fabregas admitted: "The biggest danger is Madrid's forward line. It's going to be hard to control them but I think we are ready. The key is for us to command the game." The youngster has been doing a lot of that lately.