Cesc Fabregas joins 100 assists club during Chelsea win

Cesc Fabregas joined an elite group of players after racking up his 100th Premier League assist during Chelsea’s win over Stoke City.

Chelsea made tough work of it, but they eventually secured their 13th consecutive Premier League win against Stoke City. Cesc Fabregas was influential for the Blues, directly contributing to two goals and reaching 100 Premier League assists in the process.

The Spaniard’s neat pass to tee up Willian for his second goal moved him into three figures. Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney are the only other three players to achieve such a feat.

Moreover, according to Opta, Fabregas is quickest to the mark, taking just 293 appearances to hit 100.

The midfielder has experienced a resurgence in recent months. When Conte switched to the back three, it appeared as though there was no serious role for Fabregas. However, he has taken the opportunities that Conte has afforded him and now is a genuine contender to start.

This Stoke City win was a prime example of his value. Fabregas assisted on two of Chelsea’s four goals, enabling both Gary Cahill and Willian to hit the back of the net. He was at the centre of the Blues’ play, pulling the strings while N’Golo Kante did his work.

His form will be vital to Chelsea’s season as well. Conte has only three premier midfielders to choose from, unless he brings in reinforcements in January.

With that in mind, Chelsea fans should be delighted to see Fabregas finding his feet again. Some would argue that he has been missing for over a year, but he seems comfortable in Conte’s system.

He may be back on the bench for the Tottenham game, but the boss will know that Fabregas is ready to step up to the plate if needed.