The 19-year-old Spain midfielder has been shortlisted for both the main accolade and also the PFA young player award, which will be announced following a gala dinner in London on Sunday night.

Fabregas has been a consistent performer in a disappointing season for the Gunners, who reached the Carling Cup final, but then crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League.

Having played some part in each of Arsenal's 33 Barclays Premiership matches this season, Fabregas finally got himself on the scoresheet to seal the 2-1 win over Bolton on Saturday.

Brazilian Gilberto, 30, has been alongside the youngster for most of the campaign and believes Fabregas has the attributes to take his game to another level through more hard work.

"Cesc can be one of the best in his position. It is just down to him to continue the way he is playing and try to learn more," said Gilberto, who is set to skipper the side again tomorrow against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

"Sometimes you need to play more with your brain than with your power, to read the game all of the time.

"But if he can learn that, quickly, then he can be one of the best."

The Brazilian, who won the World Cup in 2002, added: "I speak to him, especially on the pitch when we play together.

"I try to position him in the right place. When you are young, you want to run more than position yourself in the right place.

"Cesc is learning. He is young, it takes time. Next season he can develop himself more than he has done."

Fabregas is not the only Arsenal youngster to have earned themselves an extended run in the first team.

Manager Arsene Wenger remains convinced this squad have the potential to again challenge for the Premiership crown and further European glory.

It has, however, been a steep learning curve for his young Gunners.

Gilberto said: "For the past two seasons a lot of young players have come through, and they need time to grow in themselves, to develop.

"However, when you play for a big team like Arsenal, you do not have time - especially if you are the first option of the manager. But they have done very well.

"What we expect next season is that they will be stronger and they will get a lot more experience from the painful time we are having together."

Arsenal's victory over Bolton tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premiership following a four-match winless run.

With a five-point gap on the sides below them, beating City should all but secure another crack at elite level European club football again next season.

However, Gilberto - stand-in captain for injured Thierry Henry - knows the team must remain focused, having gone behind to Bolton, an all-too-familiar story at the Emirates.

He said: "Sometimes you need to relax in front of goal. We have to keep going because we have another important game now against Manchester City."

Gilberto added: "For me it is unacceptable if we do not get in the Champions League next year.

"This season has been so hard for us, so painful, especially the last few weeks.

"But we do not have time to complain about what we did not do at certain times.

"We have to look forward and do our best - the quality of our game and our passing, I do not see that in other teams."

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