Francesc Fàbregas represents all that is good about Arsenal. An old head on young shoulders, a freewheeling spirit, a legend in the making. If he can add a touch of humility to his armoury, a discreet dignity when matters do not go his or his team’s way, the Latin tyro will flower into the finished article.

Taking on Mark Hughes, querying the tactics of a former player of illustrious repute, is not the best manner in which to go about it. Hughes, the Blackburn Rovers manager, may have plotted an obdurate and ugly-on-the-eye path to an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Saturday but who is Fàbregas, 19, to question his tactics?

The gist of their conversation, at the end of the game, went thus: Fàbregas: “Did you play for Barcelona?” Hughes: “Yes, a long time ago. [Fàbregas shakes head] Why? Have you got a problem with that?”

Fàbregas: “Well, that’s not Barcelona football.”

Later, as Hughes held a press briefing deep in the bowels of the Emirates Stadium, he was informed that the Spaniard wished to apologise. The Arsenal spin machine, fearing a furore, had quickly whirred into action. “Well, he can wait,” Hughes, in his sternest schoolmaster tone, growled. “He has to understand that I haven’t got Barcelona players. You play to a level you think will get a result and that’s what we did. He possibly needs to show more respect to people who have won more FA Cups than he has.”

Fàbregas has “previous”. After Arsenal lost 1-0 to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in December, their most recent defeat, Phil Jagielka, the United midfield player, accused him – and Robin van Persie – of refusing to shake hands. “If they want to be big babies, let them,” Jagielka said.

At least Fàbregas and Hughes, young buck and old warhorse, eventually made up. “I have to learn from this,” Fàbregas said. “I get really stupid when I lose or when I don’t play well. It was not the right attitude. It was good for me to say sorry.”

Hughes accepted the show of remorse. “Maybe someone had a quiet word in his ear,” he said. “He wasn’t able to exert as much influence as he normally does in games but he has calmed down now and understood what we tried to do. No problem, let’s move on.”

Arsenal move on to the Champions League, when they play PSV Eindhoven tomorrow night, and the Carling Cup final, in which they meet Chelsea in Cardiff on Sunday. A replay against Blackburn next week was the last fixture they needed. Had they shown more urgency – though Brad Friedel did have to make a marvellous double-save to deny Thierry Henry and Justin Hoyte near the end – they would not have to make the long trek to Ewood Park. “It’s not our dream to go up there,” Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said. “We were too slow in our passing, not sharp enough.”

Arsenal still extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches and remain undefeated at the Emirates in 20. With William Gallas, the versatile defender, returning after a three-month lay-off because of injury, it was not all doom, gloom and silly spats. “It was the most frustrating spell of my career,” Gallas said. “Now, I can forget about it. I just want to win things.” Arsenal could yet win the Carling Cup, FA Cup and/or Champions League. Fàbregas will be a key component of their triple assault but if they end up with nothing, he must accept it gracefully. No more the big baby. Grow up, Cesc.

HOW THEY LINED UP

Arsenal (4-4-2): M Almunia – J Hoyte, K Touré, P Senderos, W Gallas (sub: G Clichy, 59min) – T Walcott (sub: E Adebayor, 67), F Fàbregas, M Flamini, F Ljungberg (sub: T Rosicky, 67) – J Aliadière, T Henry. Substitutes not used: Denilson, M Poom

Blackburn Rovers (4-5-1): B Friedel – Z Khizanishvili, C Samba, R Nelsen, S Warnock – B Emerton, D Bentley, D Dunn (sub: A Todd, 90), A Mokoena, B Berner (sub: M Derbyshire, 67) – S Nonda (sub: J Roberts, 83). Substitutes not used: J Brown, S Peter. Booked: Dunn, Bentley, Khizanishvili, Todd

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