Fabregas 65, 82

Arsenal won this EPL third-versus-fourth encounter thanks largely to a 28-minute cameo substitute appearance from mercurial Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Having failed to break down a fiercely resistant Aston Villa defence for nearly an hour, the Gunners were building up a head of steam, and the 57^th-minute introduction of Fabregas was the catalyst for what was eventually a convincing victory.

It was also a pyrrhic victory, however. Fabregas was on the bench having recovered from a hamstring victory, and in scoring his and Arsenal’s second goal on 82 minutes to seal victory; he aggravated the injury again, which could leave him on the sidelines for three weeks.

With Villa’s game plan to frustrate Arsenal working in the opening period, chances were few and far between.

Eduardo wasted the clearest, shooting weakly at Villa keeper Brad Friedel after Abou Diaby had set him up inside the box.

But the game started to open up after the break, with Brad Friedel making a wonderful save to deny Eduardo inside the six-yard box.

And cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Fabregas’s introduction provided Arsenal with the extra necessary spark.

He set up Eduardo again and Arshavin, who were both denied by the increasingly busy Friedel.

But he gave the American custodian no chance when he curled a magnificent free-kick, which he’d won himself, over the wall and past Friedel’s right-hand.

He doubled the advantage with eight minutes remaining, finishing off a trademark break from a Villa corner by sweeping home substitute Theo Walcott’s excellent crossfield pass.

However, he limped away in celebration, to the immediate visible concern of manager Arsene Wenger, who risked him in the first place – though later Wenger admitted he would do the same again.

Diaby rounded off the victory with an unchallenged run through a tired Villa midfield and lovely curled shot from the edge of the box.