EPL 09/10: Fabregas sink Villa, Rooney atoned Hull

Cesc Fabregas emerged off the bench and bagged a brace as Arsenal climbed to second in the Premier League table with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Chances were few and far in the first half, although Eduardo had a good chance to open the scoring early on when he scuffed his left-footed shot.

Richard Dunne did have the ball in the back of the net before half-time, however, referee Phil Dowd rightly disallowed the effort for a foul on Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal finally clicked into gear on the hour mark when a fine save from Brad Friedel kept out William Gallas’ close-range effort from Eduardo’s knock-down.

Soon after Friedel parried Andrey Arshavin’s left-footed drive the home side went in front though Cesc Fabregas’ sublime free-kick.

The Spain international, so often Arsenal’s talisman, settled the game late on when he lashed the ball past Friedel from Theo Walcott’s fine through-ball.

The Gunners added the icing on the cake in injury time when Abou Diaby was given the freedom of the pitch before curling a delightful right-footed shot home in injury-time.

Wayne Rooney was involved in every goal as he atoned for an error to inspire Manchester United to a 3-1 victory over Hull City in the Premier League at the KC Stadium.

The England star scored his club’s first before playing a disastrous back-pass in the build-up to Craig Fagan’s penalty-spot equaliser, but he then assisted an Andy Dawson own goal and Dimitar Berbatov’s tap-in as United returned to second in the table.

A drab first half had been marked by an overall wastefulness from both teams, however, Rooney punished Hull on the stroke of the interval as he converted a Darren Fletcher cross for his 13th league goal of the season.

But Phil Brown’s Tigers drew level in the 60th minute as Craig Fagan slotted a penalty following Rafael da Silva’s push on Jozy Altidore, which came as a result of a disastrously short back-pass from United’s No.10.

Rooney was clearly motivated to make amends and his low cross forced Dawson to turn into his own net in the 73rd minute before Berbatov applied the finishing touch to a crafty 82nd minute pass to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson’s side moved to within two points of Chelsea and back above Arsenal.