It is being reported that Arsenal starlet Fran Merida will be leaving Arsenal in the summer in favour of a return back to Spain to the club he supported as a child, Atletico Madrid.

Last year he was reported as agreeing terms on a new contract, yet despite agreeing terms he did not actually sign the piece of paper and with his contract running out in the summer Atletico swooped to snap up the 19 year old.

Merida is highly touted and has impressed in run outs for Arsenal in the Carling Cup and against Olympiakos and some even went as far as crowning the youngster as 'the new Fabregas' and that is part of the reason he won't be missed.

Fabregas at just 22 is just 3 years older than the player that was meant to assume his throne. It's not like Fabregas is past the peak of his powers and Merida was being groomed to fill his position, rather Fabregas has years ahead of him and if his utterances are to be believe they will be spent in North London rather than back in Spain.

Scarily despite having played for what seems an eternity, Fabregas is still improving adding to his game with every season. His cameo performance against Villa last month will go down as one of his most important in an Arsenal shirt if they can keep pace and somehow top the table in May.

Even if Fabregas future does eventually lie else where, a certain Welsh prodigy will be more than capable of filling the gap. Aaron Ramsey has done a great job in Fabregas's injury enforced absence and his man of the match performance and goal against West Ham on Sunday showed how much the 19 old has come along this season.

Arsene Wenger has already declared that Ramsey is ahead of schedule in his development and with space in Arsenal's starting 11 free due to injury and international call ups Ramsey has gone about giving Wenger a selection headache when he has a full fit squad at his disposal.

Add to this picture Abou Diaby who is the oldest of the bunch at just 23 and Arsenal will not be too worried that Merida has chosen to further his tutilage in the game at another club.

Although it is a knock to lose such a talented player, there are a wealth of good, technical players that remain at the club that can do just as good a, if not better, job than Merida so don't be too worried at the youngster's departure.