Arsenal 1 v Chelsea 2 Chelsea produced their finest performance of the season defeating Arsenal 1-2 in their own back yard with goals from Fernando Torres and a brilliant free-kick by Juan Mata to increase their lead a the top of the Premier League this afternoon.
In-between, the home side grabbed an equaliser with a fine turn and shot by striker Gervinho.
But this victory signalled that Chelsea, although in transition from the Champions League side, are very much title contenders.
Three montes in and the first effort on goal, came from the right boot of centre- back David Luiz, who let fly with a 30-yarder. Vito Mannone, comfortably held.
Aaron Ramsey, was wildly optimistic with his shot, from just outside the Chelsea area three minutes lag. the ball sailed into row z of the Chelsea end.
Arsenal's best move of the game so far came on 10 minutes with Santi Carzola blasting over Petr Cech crossbar from long- range after good set-up play by Ramsey and in particular Gervinho.
Abou Diaby tried his luck a minute later. This time, it was on target but Cech safely collected the ball in his midriff. That shot must have hurt as Diaby was then replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with 28 minutes of the first half remaining.
The Blues went deservedly ahead on 20 minutes, when, after Hazard was dumped to the ground once again, Juan Mata sent in the perfect curling free-kick from the right. The
Spain hitman held off Laurent Koscielny on the six-yard box and wrapped his right leg round him and clipped the ball home past Mannone.
Torres should have scored on a quick counter-attack two minutes later but he tried to round the keeper and fell over.
It looked as if the centre-back Koscielny had clipped Torres but referee Martin Atkinson adjudged it as a tackle and waved play on.
Torres did have the ball in the back of the net with 16 minutes to go, but was clearly offside when he arrowed the ball past Mannone from the edge of e Arsenal area.
Ramsey received a yellow card for a needless tackle in the middle if the park.
Oscar was added to this on 39 minutes for another lazy late challenge on Ramsey.
But with a arsenal plying on the pressure, the got their just rewards seconds before the break, when Oxlade-Chaberlain sent in a low right-wing cross, which was picked up by
Gervinho on the six-yard box.
The Ivory Coast striker, facing away from goal, turned and shot in one quick movement, rifling the ball high into the top of Cech's net to level the scores.
Oscar was unlucky not to get a corner deep into added time, when his 29 -yard drive took a slight defection off Vermaelen in inched wide of Mannone's right upright.
Torres smacked the side netting with the last effort of the half.
Arsenal started off after he break in commanding fashion, and Carzola was unlucky to see a smart left footer flash past Cech's left post on 50 minutes.
Luiz was given a yellow card by Atkinson for diving when the Brazil defender appeared to be pushed over inside the Arsenal area.
Another yellow was brandished, on 59 minutes - this time for Vermalelen as he bundled over Torres as the Blues made a foray upfield.
Up stepped Mata to thump a viscous curling 30-yarder into the area with the hapless Koscienly stretching out to deflect the ball out of range but only helping it past Mannone, who, to be truthful, was well beaten by the flight of the ball.
Cech produced a wonder save with 31 minutes to go, palming out a fine Lukas Podolski header as the ball appeared to be looping over the outstretched dive of the goalkeeper.
Torres claimed another penalty on 70 minutes, suggesting a Hazard shot hit the hand of Vermaelen. The ref ignored the plea.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger decided he had seen enough and three minutes later made a double substitution, replacing Ramsey for Theo Walcott and Podolski by Oliver Giroud.
Cech was once again in superb form, somehow getting to a defelcted shot from Giroud to steer the ball round his right post.
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo, perhaps sensing the game moving in the home side's favour, made his first change on 75 minutes, bringing on Victor Moses for tiring Oscar.
Mata, already with a goal from a long ranger, took a free kick from just on the edge of the Arsenal penalty box with nine minutes to go. sadly for the Spain midfielder the ball smacked off Koscielny's head.
Gary Cahill then came on, replacing Luiz as Di Matteo attempted to see out the game. The final substitution for the away side came two later, Mata off fro Ryan Bertrand. Twice Arsenal were caught offside as the minutes ticked down and a degree of frustration crept into players and their fans alike. An example being Carzola's first-time attempt on the edge of the Blues area. instead of taking a touch and placing his shot.
Giroud then being culpable of only finding Cech's side-netting after doing the hard bit of rounding the goalkeeper with seconds to go.
Ramires picked up a yellow for another silly foul.
But it was worth it as the referee blew the whistle a minute later and three precious point were heading across London to SW6.
Teams: Chelsea- Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz,Ramires,Torres, Mata,Oscar, Mikel, Hazard,Terry. Subs- Romeu, Lampard, Moses, Turnbull, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.
Arsenal- Mannone, Diaby, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Arteta, Podolski, Ramsey, Cazorla, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Gibbs. Subs- Mertesacker, Santos, Giroud, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Martinez
Referee - Martin Atkinson