Analysing Cesc Fabregas' Start to Life at Chelsea

Diego Costa's goals have overshadowed everything at Chelsea this season.

There's been universal praise for the start Jose Mourinho's side has made, dropping just two points in their opening seven matches to sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table.

But when talking about individuals, Costa's nine goals demand he is the centre of attention, the focus of opposition teams, chants from the terraces and headline writers.

Even his manager is getting frustrated with the constant flurry of interest in his striker's form.

"I've said that 20 times already," when he was asked ahead last weekend's showdown with Arsenal about how impressed he has been with Costa's start.

"He is doing well and we were expecting that."

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

It was a response that almost begged he be afforded the opportunity to discuss someone else.

Facing Arsenal inevitably raised questions about Cesc Fabregas and after watching his side come away comfortable 2-0 winners, Mourinho was willing to open up a bit more this time.

"He was fantastic," he said. "It wasn’t because the opponent was Arsenal he produced this performance. He has been doing this since day one. I don’t remember a game this season where he was not fantastic."

"Cesc today was again very special and it shows the professional he is. To play against the team where he was made to play football shows his commitment to us."

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It was high praise indeed from the manager. It was more than deserved, too.

Fabregas was sensational against his former club, controlling the flow of the game from midfield to give Chelsea the control they required in overcoming the Gunners.

The Spaniard's entire display was to be marveled, as was the sublime through ball that found Costa, who lobbed Wojciech Szczesny to kill the game off with a little over 10 minutes remaining.

Like Mourinho, Chelsea fans were hardly surprised.

That's been the trend at Stamford Bridge this term: pass to Cesc and he will pick out Diego.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Fabregas has seven assists in seven Premier League appearances on the back of his Arsenal performance—a phenomenal record.

There are times when statistics can tell only half the story, can be manipulated to make things seem as they aren't.

This isn't one of them.

Not only is Fabregas the Premier League's and Chelsea's leading assist maker, he tops the charts in all the key areas for his club.

No player has made more passes—or key passes for that matter—while his success rate of 89.9 per cent (per WhoScored.com) reinforces the notion he is the man who keeps Mourinho's team moving.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Chelsea have been desperate for a player of Fabregas' ilk for some time.

Ahead of the season, Mourinho explained how he was a replacement for Frank Lampard; not in the sense of like-for-like but more a player to sit in the midfield and dictate play.

A decade ago—and even just a few seasons back for that matter—Lampard was still vital to Chelsea's approach, bombarding his way from deep to help kill off teams.

Chelsea have evolved to the team we're seeing now, though.

With three attacking midfielders supporting a lone striker, there isn't a need—or room—for a player of Lampard's abilities—especially when time is running out on his career.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

What Chelsea needed was a player with a more cute style to combine midfield and attack, helping unlock those stubborn defences.

They struggled in doing that last term, resulting in some frustrating scorelines. Not now.

Fabregas' has been the missing link, combining with those around him to transform Chelsea into the Premier League's most potent attacking threat.

Already they have 21 goals to their name—an average of three per game—while at the same stage last season they had just 10.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Costa's been the man pulling the trigger, but we shouldn't forget who's not only been loading the gun, but putting the bullets in the chamber.

Fernando Torres must be watching on with envy, as a player like Fabregas may well have turned around his Chelsea career. Instead it's Costa proving the beneficiary.

"I’m expecting a good year in front of us," Fabregas recently told ChelseaFC.com. "My ambitions are to win absolutely everything."

If he continues like he has, there's a very real possibility Chelsea will do just that.

*All quotes taken firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes