He had a superb game and became the youngest player to score for Arsenal at 16 years and 212 days - smashing the record of club legend Cliff Bastin, 17 years and 296 days when he scored against Sheffield Wednesday in 1930.
He had been spotted a year ago when, at 15, he starred in Spain's youth team win over England at Darlington. Midfielder Fabregas was also top scorer in August's World Youth Cup in Finland.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Leeds were interested, but Arsenal gained the upper hand when their southern Europe scout set up a meeting involving the player, his parents and chief scout Steve Rowley in early spring.
From then on, there was only one club for whom he would sign. He said: 'Why did I come to Arsenal? The people who brought me over showed a lot of confidence in me and treated me very well. And I've trained with the first team and it has been great experience.
'It was a difficult decision to come to Arsenal at my age because this is a foreign country, but it is proving a great move and I'm very happy. I hope it continues. I'm delighted to get a chance in the first team because I never expected it so early. I'm playing the same role here that I do in the national team.
'Only a year ago I was watching all the Premier League games on TV at home and I thought Patrick Vieira was the best midfielder in the world. Now I'm playing alongside him. He talked me through the game, told me to relax and not to worry. He couldn't have been more helpful.'
Fabregas was the youngest, but by no means the only promising youngster, to sparkle in Tuesday's 5-1 victory in which Arsenal fielded no fewer than seven teenagers.
Arsene Wenger hailed the current generation as Arsenal's most gifted since the emergence of Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Paul Davis and David Rocastle 20 years ago.
Jeremie Aliadiere, 20, is probably the closest to claiming a regular first-team place, having started against Liverpool this season. Two fine goals against Wolves earned comparisons with Thierry Henry but Wenger pleaded for patience.
He said: 'He's been injured for two years and is now benefiting from a consistent training regime and has improved every week. It's unfair to say he's like Thierry because they're different kinds of player.'
Maybe so, but at they have the most fundamental and most important factor in common. The same as the two different generations - a winning mentality.
Arsenal's French centre half Pascal Cygan, 29, a £2.5million buy from Lille two years ago, is hoping for a return across the Channel in the transfer window after starting just four games this season. He said: 'I've always made it clear I'd look elsewhere if I wasn't playing.'
