Fàbregas double leaves Middlesbrough feeling low

Arsenal FC extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 20 matches with a 2-0 defeat of relegation-threatened Middlesbrough FC, Cesc Fàbregas scoring in each half for the Gunners, while Blackburn Rovers FC did their survival hopes the power of good.

Away losses
The visitors were unbeaten in their last five matches against Arsène Wenger's team, a statistic they never really looked like extending once Fàbregas put the Gunners ahead after 26 minutes. Nicklas Bendtner and Fàbregas worked the ball out to Andrei Arshavin, who drifted inside from the left and teed up the Arsenal captain to sweep the ball past Brad Jones. Middlesbrough − who have equalled a club record tenth successive away league defeat − briefly threatened after the break with former Arsenal striker Jérémie Aliadière and Marlon King both testing the returning Manuel Almunia, though it was the hosts who struck again midway through the second half.

United test
Emmanuel Eboué played in Fàbregas, who rounded the onrushing Jones and rolled the ball into the net for his third league goal of the season, ensuring the Londoners head into their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Manchester United FC on Wednesday in winning form. Middlesbrough remain in the bottom three, three points adrift of safety, while Blackburn moved six clear of trouble with a 2-0 victory against local rivals Wigan Athletic FC.

Monday fixture
Benni McCarthy headed in for the hosts in the last minute of the first half and team-mate Ryan Nelsen did likewise on the hour, glancing a set-piece from McCarthy past Chris Kirkland. Second-bottom Newcastle United FC host Portsmouth FC on Monday night.