It may have looked like a stinging riposte to Chelsea taunting Arsenal in their goodbye speech to Ashley Cole, but the removal of Cesc Fabregas's banner from the Ken Friar bridge at the Emirates Stadium was simply all down to Mother Nature.

The removal of the banner was spotted yesterday, and photographs quickly did the rounds on social media, looking like Arsenal had struck back in their rivalry with Chelsea by getting rid of the image of their the Blues' new £27m signing.

The truth is, however, that strong winds forced the banner to be removed, alongside images of other heroes from the club, such as Patrick Vieira, Jimmy Logie, Charlie George, Liam Brady and Ian Wright. An image of Fabregas will still be seen on the neighbouring Danny Fiszman bridge, with a new banner of the former captain put up again soon which should be in place by the time he visits as a Chelsea player in the Premier League on 25 April.

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"Both directors selected Cesc Fabregas for inclusion," a club spokesperson said."While the Fabregas banner on Danny Fiszman’s bridge remains, the player’s flag on the Ken Friar bridge came down a number of months ago, following strong winds.

"These banners will be reinstalled in due course."

Arsenal turned down the opportunity to re-sign Fabregas this summer, who played for the club between 2003 and 2011, before leaving for his boyhood team Barcelona.

Shape Created with Sketch. How Spanish players have fared at Chelsea Show all 7 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. How Spanish players have fared at Chelsea 1/7 Albert Ferrer The right-back made 76 Premier League appearances for the Blues between 1998 and 2003 after signing from Barcelona. At one stage was the first-choice in his position at Stamford Bridge. HIT 2/7 Enrique de Lucas Featured for Chelsea during the 2002/03 season after joining from Espanyol, making 25 league appearances but failing to score a single goal in the division. MISS 3/7 Asier del Horno The left-back was transferred to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £8m in 2005. But did not stay at Stamford Bridge for long. Despite being part of the Premier League-winning side in 2005/06 he returned to Spain to play for Valencia after just one season in England. MISS 4/7 Juan Mata Won the Chelsea Player of the Season award in his first two seasons with the club, but when Jose Mourinho re-joined as Blues' manager at the start of last term he saw his first-team chances suffer with the emergence of Oscar in the playmaker role. Joined Manchester United for £37m in January. HIT 5/7 Oriol Romeu Signed as a teenage prospect from Barcelona in 2010, the defensive midfielder has never quite shown his promise at Chelsea. Still on the books at Stamford Bridge but spent last season on loan at Valencia. MISS 6/7 Fernando Torres Signed for a British-record £50m on deadline day in 2011. Much was expected for Liverpool's lethal forward. His time with the Blues has largely been a failure, however. He has scored only 45 goals in 172 matches in all competitions. MISS 7/7 Cesar Azpilicueta The full-back has excelled in both right and left-back positions since he joined from Marseilles in 2012. The 24-year-old has successfully taken over the left-back berth from Ashley Cole, who has now left the club. HIT 1/7 Albert Ferrer The right-back made 76 Premier League appearances for the Blues between 1998 and 2003 after signing from Barcelona. At one stage was the first-choice in his position at Stamford Bridge. HIT 2/7 Enrique de Lucas Featured for Chelsea during the 2002/03 season after joining from Espanyol, making 25 league appearances but failing to score a single goal in the division. MISS 3/7 Asier del Horno The left-back was transferred to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £8m in 2005. But did not stay at Stamford Bridge for long. Despite being part of the Premier League-winning side in 2005/06 he returned to Spain to play for Valencia after just one season in England. MISS 4/7 Juan Mata Won the Chelsea Player of the Season award in his first two seasons with the club, but when Jose Mourinho re-joined as Blues' manager at the start of last term he saw his first-team chances suffer with the emergence of Oscar in the playmaker role. Joined Manchester United for £37m in January. HIT 5/7 Oriol Romeu Signed as a teenage prospect from Barcelona in 2010, the defensive midfielder has never quite shown his promise at Chelsea. Still on the books at Stamford Bridge but spent last season on loan at Valencia. MISS 6/7 Fernando Torres Signed for a British-record £50m on deadline day in 2011. Much was expected for Liverpool's lethal forward. His time with the Blues has largely been a failure, however. He has scored only 45 goals in 172 matches in all competitions. MISS 7/7 Cesar Azpilicueta The full-back has excelled in both right and left-back positions since he joined from Marseilles in 2012. The 24-year-old has successfully taken over the left-back berth from Ashley Cole, who has now left the club. HIT

The 27-year-old then joined Chelsea on a five-year contract and will wear the No 4 shirt at Stamford Bridge.

“I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time for me to return,” Fabregas said in a statement upon joining Chelsea.

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