Cesc Fabregas banner latest: Arsenal did remove banner of new Chelsea signing...but only because of stormy weather

The banner should be back up by the time he visits with Chelsea on 25 April

The Cesc Fabregas banner on the Ken Friar Bridge banner before it was removed. One still remains on the Danny Fiszman Bridge (@1886_BLOG TWITTER)

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.

"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.

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.