Cesc Fabregas names surprising team as one of his favourite three Premier League sides to watch, and compares their style to the way his Arsenal side played under Arsene Wenger

Cesc Fabregas has named a surprising Premier League club among his trio of favorite teams to watch, due to their similarities to his years at Arsenal.

The former Spain midfielder, 36, became an elite legend in England with his time at Arsenal under Arsène Wenger, while joining Chelsea for a successful five-year spell between 2014 and 2019.

Now the under-19 coach of Italian second division club Como, of which the World Cup winner is a co-owner, he is taking his first steps in the management process.

As part of his understanding, he has currently observed some of the best teams in England. Fabrégas said to the mirror that alongside Manchester City and his former club Arsenal, he has a particular passion for watching Brighton and learning from Roberto de Zerbi’s coaching philosophy.

Fabregas said: “It’s the way they understand the game. They know when to slow down, when to speed up, when to find the right spaces. They know the right moment to attract players and then speed up.

Cesc Fabregas named the three Premier League clubs he likes to watch at the moment

The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder has praised Roberto De Zerbi’s philosophy at Brighton.

Opposing teams are struggling to deal with Brighton’s high-risk approach, which saw the club finish sixth in the Premier League last season, led by Karou Mitoma and Solly March, among others.

“How many times do we see them play short, short, short and then March and Mitoma attack the spaces and score from behind? They understand football in a way that I like and think it should be played,” Fabregas added.

He said Brighton’s “fast, precise football” reminded him of the way Arsenal played when they were starting out under Wenger in north London. He said: ‘If you press them high they will put you behind, if you press them low they will continue to play short and find spaces. It’s very interesting and De Zerbi is someone I learn a lot from.

Brighton and perennial title winners Manchester City are the clubs Fabregas is monitoring, alongside Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, with William Saliba one of the vital cogs in the Gunners’ potential future success.

Fabregas said: “Arsenal use this 3-1-3-3 formation – which is six players in front of the ball. For the coach, it’s about trusting his defenders to be faster and faster and to recover the ball. They will then be able to play a little more offensive football.

“But you could see the difference when Saliba was playing and got injured (last season). Mikel will tell you himself that it’s not the same way of playing.

Arsenal are currently second in the Premier League table, behind Tottenham on goal difference, with Man City third and Brighton sixth.

Fabregas said Brighton’s “fast, precise football” reminded him of Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

He felt Mikel Arteta’s Gunners had improved significantly with the availability of William Saliba.