Arsene Wenger: I regret selling Fabregas

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he regrets allowing Cesc Fabregas to leave but has called on fans to respect the Chelsea midfielder on Sunday.

The 27-year-old left the Emirates Stadium in 2011 for Barcelona but - after struggling to nail down a place in the first team - he returned to the Premier League last summer under Jose Mourinho's tutelage.

Wenger has in the past suggested he doesn't wish he had tried to swoop for Fabregas rather than allow the Blues, who are on the verge of becoming English champions, to take the Spaniard but he has not conceded he wish he had not sold him in the first place.

"My regret is him leaving here," the Frenchman told reporters. "But I want every player to be respected."

Wenger also suggested he expects star attacker Alexis Sanchez to give the likes of Eden Hazard, Harry Kan, Diego Costa, David de Gea and Philippe Coutinho a run for their money in the Player of the Year awards.

"It's Alexis's first season so he will compete very closely with Hazard for Player of the Year," Wenger added.

Alexis has enjoyed a superb debut season at the Emirates following his €40 million move from Barcelona, scoring 22 goals in all competitions and providing 11 assists, while Hazard has sparkled for Chelsea, hitting 18 goals and laying on 14 assists.