But the everybody's-at-it excuse simply doesn't wash. Even in this era of overbearing player power, some exceptionally talented players manage to increase their salary without whining to the papers or hiding behind the obnoxious claims of 'sources'. In 2006, without any fuss or attention, Cesc Fábregas penned an improved eight-year contract with his employers. At the time he was coveted enough to write his own terms with any European superclub. He could have increased his earnings if he had been prepared to kick up a stink, but he has better manners than that.
Two years on and the young man is preparing for a new season with Arsenal after another summer in which he could have joined Ronaldo, Lampard, Adebayor et al without even trying. He found himself starring in many a mischievous transfer story emanating from Spain. His response? He swiftly knocked them all back, outlined his commitment to Arsenal and quietly got on with enjoying his well earned holidays. If he wants a pay rise he will do it without the help of a public inquiry, muchos gracias
It is almost impossible for a young footballer thrust into gold-tinged celebrity to maintain perspective. Fábregas has, to the extent that conversation with him begs the wistful question: 'Why can't they all be like that?'
Fábregas had more reason than most to remind himself how lucky he is last week when he toured the specialist teenage cancer unit of University College Hospital as part of Arsenal's support for their charity of the season. Afterwards he spent some time with another cool and confident 21-year-old making the best of his life. From a distance they looked like two mates hanging out, talking football and music. It just so happened that the other kid, Anthony Whitehead, discovered he had cancer three days before his 18th birthday.
Fábregas was clearly moved by Anthony's story. Most people in that delicate age group are either lumped into the children's ward, or, as Anthony was, in with the over-sixties. He had nobody to talk to on his wavelength until he came into contact with the Teenage Cancer Trust.
'At our age we think we know everything and we don't know anything. That's the truth,' Fábregas reflected afterwards. 'You have to fight for your dream but you also have to feel fortunate for what you have. Anthony kept fighting for his dream which was to beat cancer. He made it and now he has a bright future for sure. He went though so much, all alone in hospital with everyone around him 60 or 70 years old. I told him, "Many congratulations because not everyone has this character." To see someone of my age have such an experience, and come through it happy and smiling, is unbelievable.'
Fábregas looks, and feels, blessed. He is raring to get back out onto the pitch, which he expects to do on Wednesday night for the visit of FC Twente in the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round. If there is a crisis at his club, as many have predicted in analysing the weaknesses in Arsenal's squad compared to their rivals, their talismanic No 4 does not appear to be feeling it. Despite losing three experienced midfield team-mates in Gilberto Silva, Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb during the close-season, Fábregas is not anxious. 'We have to accept that they are big players but the boss knows what he is doing,' he says, before pointing out that the transfer window is still very much open. He expects the missing link to arrive in good time.
Naturally, he is a little disappointed to lose such close midfield allies, but he is also slightly baffled as to why they were so keen to move on. 'I cannot remember any player who left Arsenal and has been a superstar,' he muses. 'Don't get me wrong, Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini are two of my best friends in football and I wish them all the best. I speak to them every week and I know how they feel - I am not going to tell you - but Arsenal is Arsenal. This club has something special that no others have. We have to take care of it.'
Why does he feel so loyal? What is this something special? 'I have a lot of friends in Spain and Italy and when they speak about other clubs I know I am privileged to be where I am. I don't want to lose it. I want to win things for the club. I want to get experience here. I want to play for Arsenal. When you see football all around the world you see very few teams who play the way that we play. I just enjoy it. I feel it is my home now.'
The sentiment is admirable. But surely there is only so long that happiness can mask the desire for trophies, especially as Fábregas is fresh from the elation of summer success on the international stage. The critics who doubt if Arsenal have a group strong enough to mount a challenge cannot all be wrong.
'We are not a squad with 25 international players like Chelsea,' he explains. 'We are a bit shorter because the boss wants to keep everyone happy, with everyone fighting for a place and knowing they have a chance.
When you have six or seven important injuries, as we did last season, that's unfortunate. But in the League four points [the number Arsenal finished behind the champions] is not a lot to make up.
'Right now we are competitive, but in the middle we need someone who can compete and give us another dimension we are missing. That's all we need,' he says. Arsène Wenger made some cryptic comments about Barry last week, but Fábregas cannot disguise his enthusiasm for his Spain team-mate Xabi Alonso. 'I'd love it!' he beams. 'What can I say. He is my friend and apart from that he is a great professional, a great passer of the ball, he works hard defensively, he's scoring goals now, he's experienced and he's only 26. For me he would be perfect.'
So has he spoken to him about a possible move south from Liverpool? 'Erm... No,' is the attempted reply, but Fábregas cannot stop himself from breaking into peals of laughter. He is a man of many talents, but fibbing evidently is not one of them.
It is still striking how much top-level experience he has mustered. How many 21-year-olds have played well over 200 matches for club and country, including the finals of the European Championship, Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup? His importance to Arsenal from the control room of central midfield cannot be overstated. Over the summer he made himself almost as indispensable for Spain with a series of spectacular cameos.
He is quick to point out that his international squad was not particularly old. 'We were probably the second youngest side at the European Championship with Spain and we won the tournament,' he says. The notion that Arsenal are too young, too naive to succeed irks a little. 'Some people say, because we are young, that we are working for the future. I don't see it like this and the boss doesn't either. You just have to believe in what you can achieve this season. There are always people around who want to put you down. At Arsenal we have to stick together, the players and the fans, we have to be strong and keep fighting for our objectives.'
There is no objective higher than the Champions League. That subject inevitably drifts towards Arsenal's 2006 final against Barcelona. His team were 14 minutes away from lifting the trophy against his boyhood club.
Does he think about it often? 'Not really,' he says, as if the answer is surprising even to himself. 'It's the one I think less about. I don't know why. We were all devastated after that final, but I must say afterwards we realised that Arsenal was a big club and we could compete against anyone. To play a final against Barcelona with 10 men from the first few minutes, and they didn't come back until the last few minutes, it was really impressive. It was devastating but we were quite proud. For our mental aspect it was very, very positive.
'We have learned we don't have to be afraid of anyone. We've seen in the last few seasons we can beat anybody. You have to be positive and you have to believe you can do it again - at least make it to the final. I've played a few finals now and you can see anything can happen.'
The memory of last season's dramatically charged European fallout at Anfield in the quarter-finals is sore enough for Fábregas to volunteer a rare 'no comment'. He prefers to focus on the positives, such as the eye-catching dismantling of Milan in the last 16 - a performance that amply demonstrated the leadership and inspiration Fábregas bestows on his team.
William Gallas may wear the armband, but the Catalan who is 10 years his junior provides a significant amount of direction within the camp. Fábregas would welcome the captaincy one day. 'I would love it,' he enthuses. 'I respect all decisions. I am a player that accepts nearly everything. I am happy with everything, my No 4, playing for Arsenal in centre midfield and giving 100 per cent every, every game. But if the boss thinks in one or two years I am ready to be captain, I will take the armband.'
Considering he talks as good a game as he plays these days, that honour would be entirely deserved. And he would not have to get his agent to tell the papers how much he wanted it - or else! - in order to make it happen.
Donate to the teenage cancer trust at www.beagoonerbeagiver.org
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