Wenger: Fabregas gamble worthwhile

Arsene Wenger felt he was right to gamble on the fitness of captain Cesc Fabregas after the Arsenal captain came off the bench to inspire his team to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa which hauls the Gunners back into the Barclays Premier League title race.

The Spain midfielder had been out with a hamstring problem, but was called upon just before the hour and went on to break the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium with a superb free-kick, and then swept in a crucial second goal to wrap up the points during the closing stages ahead of Abou Diaby’s stoppage-time strike.