Fabregas rifled in a free-kick from 25 yards and the ball deflected off the back of Gallas and spun into the bottom corner of the net, with Boruc wrong-footed.
With Celtic jittery in defence, Arsenal made a strong start to the second half and Denilson curled a shot narrowly wide before the visitors enjoyed another lucky break.
Shaun Maloney's free-kick into the penalty area was diverted on to the arm of Nicklas Bendtner but referee Massimo Busacca waved play on, much to the anguish of the vociferous home support.
Celtic introduced strikers Scott McDonald and Marc-Antoine Fortune for the final half hour and an important sliding block from Gallas prevented the substitutes from combining in front of goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, Arsenal stretched their lead and again it was unfortunate on the home side as Caldwell's outstretched leg diverted a low Clichy cross beyond Boruc.
It may have been an ugly finish but the sweet passing move involving substitute Abou Diaby and the galloping French full-back put the Celtic captain under pressure, with Bendtner waiting to pounce.
Boruc later made an unorthodox block to keep out a venomous strike from Fabregas as Arsenal found more room to exploit and played out the closing stages comfortably.
Chelsea came from behind to win for the second time in four days as new manager Carlo Ancelotti maintained his unbeaten start to life with the Blues.
Darren Bent had put Sunderland ahead when he latched on to a blocked Kenwyne Jones shot to fire past Petr Cech.
But Michael Ballack equalised when he slotted home from a corner.
Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot after Didier Drogba was tripped in the box by George McCartney and Deco's stunning shot wrapped up the victory.
Ancelotti will be delighted with the way his side came out and dominated a hard-working Sunderland side in the second half, having gone into the interval 1-0 down.
His reshaped midfield quartet of Deco, Ballack, Lampard and Michael Essien suddenly began to click and the Wearsiders had no answer.It was a significant improvement from the Chelsea side that headed into the break trailing to Bent's second goal in two games for his new club, and 100th league goal of his career.
Bent showed the poaching skills that persuaded Sunderland manager Steve Bruce to pay £10m for his services with his early goal.
The striker started the move out on the left wing with a cross that found his strike partner Jones.
The Trinidadian's shot was blocked but Bent was on to it quickly, taking a touch before firing under Cech.
Chelsea were frustrated in their attempts to equalise, with Ancelotti's diamond midfield formation able to dominate possession but struggle to breakdown a resolute Sunderland backline well protected by impressive summer additions Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana.
The visitors were mostly let down by a lack of width and some poor deliveries into the area, while their best efforts were repelled by some desperate defending from the home side.
Cattermole cleared off the line to keep out a Ballack shot and then moments later threw his body in the way to deny a Jose Bosingwa effort.
But having worked so hard to contain Chelsea in the opening half, Sunderland will have been disappointed with the way they conceded the equaliser.
Ex-Spurs striker Bent made it two goals in two games for his new club
They had been given a few scares in the opening minutes of the second half, with Branislav Ivanovic and Drogba both failing to convert headers when they were left unmarked in the box.
Seven minutes after the interval they failed to heed the warning as a left-wing corner was flicked on at the front post by Ivanovic and Ballack was given too much time to steer a left-foot shot inside the post.
Chelsea found another gear as Drogba, kept quiet in the opening period, drove into the box and beat McCartney, who stuck out a leg and tripped up the Ivorian forward.
Lampard duly dispatched the penalty - a goal that took him level in the club's all-time scorers list with the legendary Jimmy Greaves on 132 - and Chelsea did not look back.
Drogba could have grabbed his third goal of the season, but his downward header in front of goal bounced over the bar.
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