JOSE USES FABREGAS TO GOAD GUNNERS

JOSE MOURINHO taunted Arsenal ahead of tomorrow’s London derby by claiming Cesc Fabregas was attracted to Chelsea by the promise of winning trophies. Fabregas (below) returned to the English Premier League last summer after three years in Barcelona, but not to rejoin Arsene Wenger and the club where he spent eight years and was captain. Mourinho said: ‘I know why he chose Chelsea. We promised him we would build a team to suit his style of play. That he was going to be an important part of our project. And that, normally, good projects go in hand with titles. And he was looking for that. ‘I don’t know why he didn’t choose Arsenal. I only know what we promised him and what he promised us. I can’t talk about why he left Arsenal, why he didn’t go back.’ Fabregas, 27, has proved a vital cog in Mourinho’s team since his £27million transfer and is closing in on his first Premier League title as he makes his first return to the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea are 10 points clear of Wenger’s team at the top and will be champions if they can win tomorrow and at Leicester on Wednesday. Arsenal fans are not expected to give Fabregas a warm reception. ‘I’m not worried about that,’ Mourinho added. ‘Frank Lampard played at Stamford Bridge without any problem and with a good reception. ‘But he is more than ready if he has a bad reaction. He played at Barcelona in an Arsenal shirt. Why can’t he play in the Emirates with a Chelsea shirt? No problem.’ Meanwhile, Wenger insists he isn’t haunted by his decision to back out of signing Eden Hazard in 2012. Talks got to such an advanced stage that Hazard’s agent discussed the move at Wenger’s house, but the Frenchman ruled he could not compete financially with Chelsea, who landed this season’s standout player for £32m from Lille. Wenger said: ‘I have no big regrets because at the time there was so much money involved, we could not afford it. And (I could) not defend it, honestly. It was not feasible for us financially.’