Cesc Fabregas has more assists than all eight players in Arsenal's midfield - and one fewer than anyone managed the whole of last season

Spaniard registered his 12th assist of the season against Stoke

(Getty Images)

Cesc Fabregas is putting together a truly memorable season in the blue of Chelsea.

The Spanish midfielder who arrived from Barcelona has transformed the way Jose Mourinho's team play, controlling the tempo of nearly every match he plays in and giving Chelsea a razor-sharp attacking threat.

So good is Fabregas at creating chances that the goal he provided for John Terry last night in the 2-0 victory at Stoke was his 12th of the season - just one fewer than Steven Gerrard, who led the Premier League, managed in the whole of last season.

Fabregas has reached 12 assists in just 16 matches, while Gerrard needed 34 starts to reach 14.

If he continues at his current pace he is on pace to set the single-season record for assists in the Premier League, a tally set at 20 that is jointly held by Fabregas (at Arsenal in 2007-08) and former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry in 2002-03.

Jose Mourinho has never not won the title when he has been top at Christmas, and should Fabregas continue in his current vein of form, then Chelsea will surely add another Premier League trophy - and perhaps more - to their cabinet.

Arsenal had the chance to sign Fabregas in the summer, but Arsene Wenger rejected the chance because he had the central midfield position "well covered" with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini.

Look away now, Arsenal fans.

Fabregas' assist total is more than all of those eight players combined so far this season. Some of those players have been injured for large parts of the campaign so far but those eight have registered just nine assists between then, three fewer than the former Arsenal captain.

Wenger reacts after Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

Only by adding in star man Alexis Sanchez, who has played on the wing and has five assists and nine goals in a brilliant first campaign in England, do Arsenal take their total above the Spaniard.

Chelsea are currently 15 points ahead of their London rivals, and one could easily make the case that Cesc Fabregas is the main reason.

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MOST ASSISTS BY SEASON

2014-2015 - Fabregas - 12

13-14 - Steven Gerrard - 13

12-13 - Juan Mata - 12

11-12 - David Silva - 15

10-11 - Luis Nani - 14

09-10 - Frank Lampard - 14

08-09 - Lampard - 10

07-08 - Fabregas - 20

Fabregas registered 20 assists with Arsenal in 2007-08 (Getty Images)

06-07 - Cristiano Ronaldo - 14

05-06 - Didier Drogba - 11

04-05 - Frank Lampard - 18

03-04 - Muzzy Izzet - 13

02-03 - Thierry Henry - 20

01-02 - Robert Pires - 15

00-01 - David Beckham - 15

MOST ASSISTS IN PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY

1) Ryan Giggs - 131

2) Steven Gerrard - 100

3) Frank Lampard - 96

4) Wayne Rooney - 92

5) Cesc Fabregas - 83

Statistics taken from the Premier League, ESPN, WhoScored and Statbunker