Arsene Wenger declared speculation linking Cesc Fabregas with a move to Barcelona 'has to stop' - and is confident his captain will remain at Arsenal next season.
The Gunners opened their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win at League Two side Barnet, but Wenger continued to be dogged by the question of the future of his talisman, who has been given some extra time off after the World Cup.
Fabregas, who has five years still to run on his contract, may have told Wenger before the World Cup he wanted to return to the Nou Camp, but Arsenal remain determined to retain the services of its captain and have already knocked back one 30million pound offer.
Indeed, new Barcelona president Sandro Rosell admitted the Spanish club would not 'go mad' to land its former youth team player - who was embarrassingly forced into a Barcelona shirt during Spain's victory celebrations in Madrid - in time for the new campaign.
The Arsenal fans displayed an X-rated anti-Barcelona banner at Underhill, and Wenger had been left equally unimpressed by the public courting of his captain, as a string of Barcelona players, many of whom are international team-mates of the World Cup winner, urged Fabregas to complete a move 'home' to the club he left as a 16-year-old.
"There was a lot of unneeded talk. It is not pleasant to read that every day. Now, the story has to stop," Wenger declared.
"Cesc is our captain, he is so important to us and we want to keep him, that is why we were not listening to any offers."
"It was not a problem of money, just the desire to keep him at the club."
The Arsenal boss continued: "We can only influence our own behaviour, and I believe things have now gone straight again with Sandro Rosell.
"We always had a consistent attitude and were always reluctant to talk about Cesc's departure."
"It is very important we give the impression that just because somebody wants a player from us, we do not just give in."
Whether or not Fabregas can be persuaded to stay on for at least one more season remains to be seen, with the Spaniard not due to link up with the Arsenal squad again until the Emirates Cup on July 31/August 1.
However, Wenger said: "We have shown our love and care for Cesc since the start."
"I believe Cesc loves the club, has shown his attachment to the club many times and I am very confident the story will end there."
"We want Cesc to be part of our club next year, and that is it."
Arsenal gave debuts to summer signings Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh on Sunday as the Gunners ran out comfortable winners, with youngster Jay Simpson netting a first-half double.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who has seen his position as Arsenal No.1 come under question over the summer, was absent from the squad because of illness.
Arsenal has been linked with a move for Fulham's Australian international Mark Schwarzer.
When asked whether he was interested in a deal, Wenger replied: "Not really", before adding: "We are still looking at various situations, but I would not like to come out on any individuals."
"At the moment, in pre-season, there is no number one - you have to give a chance to everyone to show how good he is. You cannot decide that today."
The Arsenal