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On Thursday, the Spanish midfielder trained with his club-mates for the first time since winning the World Cup in July. A day later, he declared his intention to stay at Emirates Stadium despite intense interest from Barcelona. Later that same day in Poland, Wenger outlined the importance of that decision.
"He is our captain, he is our leader," said the Frenchman ahead of Saturday's friendly at Legia Warsaw.
"The situation is as it is," Wenger added. "I believe it is important in my job that I do not come out with private conversations I have with the players. That would be unfair.
"But Cesc has come out today to clear the air. It was very important for us that Cesc did that clearly and that we can move on from now.
"We are one week away from the start of the season so just we want to be focused and settled now."
Cesc Fabregas Statement
Cesc Fabregas has today released the following statement:
"Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.
"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing. There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.
"I have had many conversations with Arsène Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.
"I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me.
"I owe a lot to the Club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.
"I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 percent focused on playing for Arsenal.
"I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about.
"I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me."
Theo Walcott has vowed to “get out there and show people what he can do” this season.
By his own admission the Arsenal striker suffered the biggest disappointment of his career over the summer when he was omitted from England’s squad for the World Cup.
After a head-clearing holiday in America and a solid pre-season, the 21-year-old is now raring to go again. And, apart from missing out on South Africa, Walcott is also motivated by a stop-start campaign in 2009/10.
It’s all going well, I’m all smiles,” he said.
“The full pre-season will definitely help. It was an on-off season last season and it’s difficult to come back from that. I would just get back and I’d get another injury.
“I was in double figures last season with injuries. Maybe last year I was thinking about it too much and I was being a bit too timid in games because I was thinking about injury. This year I’m just going to get out there and show people what I can do. It’s all I can do really.
“Not making the World Cup this year and not playing the last one, even though I didn’t deserve to be there, it’s one of those things - what can I do to improve myself to be there next time?
“There are always disappointments in football, this was my biggest one yet.
“But when I found out about not making the England squad, the Arsenal players were really supportive. The first player I had a text from was Nicholas Bendtner and the manager was very supportive too.
“I was obviously very disappointed not to have made it, but now for the first time in a long time,
I have been able to have a rest and a proper pre-season.
“I am really excited about the season ahead – we were pleased with winning the Emirates Cup last weekend and it’s good to see players like Jack Wilshere coming through and playing so well. It is also exciting to see new players like Marouane Chamakh joining the squad.”
Capello’s decision came as a massive surprise and dominated the back pages for days.
“I had the day off so I was on the golf course and I got the phone call,” said Walcott. "I actually missed Mr Capello’s phone call. But I had a voicemail and I had to phone him back.
“He just said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m not going to bring you to South Africa, but I’ll see you in 2012 for the Euros.’
“I didn’t know what to say at all. He said, ‘have a good break and good luck. I’ll see you soon’. I wished him all the best.
“Obviously I was disappointed but I wanted the lads to do well because I am an England fan as well. I said good luck and that was it.
“I will always respect the manager’s decision. If the boss at Arsenal leaves me out of a game, I am always disappointed and I show that. You can’t be happy when you are not there. I always want to be there, no matter what happens.
“Actually, I did have a tear to be fair with my cousin and my mate.
“Then I played the best golf ever.”
Now, Walcott’s intention is to follow suit for his football club this season.
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