Cesc leads rout and insists: ‘I’m staying’
ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas inspired his side to a comeback rout and then hit out at rumours he is ready to quit the trophy-shy Gunners.
Fabregas scored one and set up four other goals, teeing up strikes for Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and substitute Theo Walcott.
Nicklas Bedntner marked Arsene Wenger’s 13th anniversary as manager with a thumping sixth, before Fabregas rubbished reports linking him with former club Barcelona.
“I am committed to this club, it is my seventh season here,” said the Spaniard, who celebrated his strike by kissing the badge. “It is hard to hear people saying I am not committed or something. It was a good time to show I love this club.”
Wenger, whose tenure as began in 1996 with a 2-0 win over Blackburn, had record scorer Thierry Henry in the stands to witness a match that saw him become the longest-serving Gunners manager ever.
But his old adversary, Rovers chief Sam Allardyce, was determined to spoil the party and did so within four minutes when Steven Nzonzi met Paul Robinson’s punt with a header that looped over Vito Mannone. Vermaelen levelled on 19 minutes with a rasping effort but David Dunn again put the visitors ahead, via a wicked deflection off William Gallas, on the half hour.
Three minutes later Arsenal were level, Fabregas feeding Van Persie to rifle low past Robinson, and they never looked back. Arshavin slotted an almost identical third before Fabregas volleyed the fourth on 57 minutes. Walcott scored the fifth with his first touch of the season, finishing a sweeping counter attack, before fellow sub Bendtner cut in from the left wing and rifled the final goal in the 89th minute.
An injury time equaliser from Junior Stanislas earned West Ham a 2-2 draw with ten-man Fulham in an action-packed London derby.
Carlton Cole headed home Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick to put the Hammers in front before Fulham debutant Kagisho Dikgacoi was sent off following an off-the-ball incident with Scott Parker.
However, Danny Murphy pulled Fulham level with a penalty after the break before Zoltan Gera put the Cottagers in front with a close-range volley. Stanislas then came to the Hammers’ rescue in added time.
A fine goal from Leon Osman earned Everton a 1-1 draw with Stoke, who took the lead through Robert Huth.