Fabregas brace downs Boro

Cesc Fabregas scored a brace to cement Arsenal's fourth position and dump Middlesbrough further into the relegation mire.

Spaniard scores double to beat Gareth Southgate's side

Cesc Fabregas scored a brace to stretch Arsenal's unbeaten league run to 20 games and dump Middlesbrough further into the relegation mire. The Spaniard - who had only scored once all season prior to this - put the home side ahead on 26 minutes when finishing off a sublime passing move. He accepted a flick from Nicklas Bendtner and set Andrey Arshavin on his way before unleashing an unstoppable effort past Brad Jones from the return ball, although replays showed Bendtner was off-side. The Boro keeper was then at fault for Fabregas' second in the 67th minute when he raced out of his area but was rounded by the Arsenal skipper who coolly slotted home. With leading scorer Robin van Persie still sidelined by a groin problem, the double salvo by Fabregas and return to fitness of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could not have come at a better time. With the Gunners' vital UEFA Champions League tie with Manchester United only three days away, manager Arsene Wenger would have been forgiven if he had rested a couple of his key men in front of the watchful eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson in the Emirates crowd. However, Arsenal named a strong starting XI and remained positive from the outset, with Theo Walcott - in his 100th appearance for the club - looking to get clear down the right and Arshavin deployed in a roaming role from the left.

First opening

The first opening came after eight minutes when Walcott was sent clear by Fabregas, but Robert Huth, the former Chelsea defender, made a fine recovery tackle. Arsenal continued to press Boro on the edge of the area, with full-back Kieran Gibbs almost getting on the end of Fabregas' pass at the near post. Arshavin then snatched possession some 18 yards out, but could not make enough space for a clean shot, and would perhaps have been better to play Fabregas in on the overlap down the left. To their credit Boro continued to chase down the home side albeit without making too much impression in the opposition half. The Gunners went ahead when Bendtner flicked the ball to Fabregas in the centre-circle, and the Arsenal captain immediately released Arshavin down the left. The Russian raced into the area before laying the ball back across into the path of the on-rushing Fabregas, who drilled his shot past Jones, low in the far corner. However replays showed the goal could have been disallowed after Bendtner strayed into an offside position and was also in the line of Jones. Boro were then denied a penalty appeal for a handball against Bendtner following a Stewart Downing corner. Almunia, fit again following an ankle problem, was called into action on 43 minutes when he saved Stewart Downing's 20-yard snap-shot at full strength, down to the left.

Second period

The Gunners made a change at the start of the second half when Mikael Silvestre, the ex-Manchester United defender, was replaced by Johan Djourou, fit again following a knee problem. Boro almost snatched an equaliser when former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere took a through ball on his chest and raced into the area, but Almunia was quick off his line to make a crucial block. At the other end, Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue combined to tee-up Walcott six yards out, with Jones producing a quick reaction save. In a warning for the hosts, Boro striker Marlon King fired an angled volley from Tony McMahon's cross goalwards which