Cesc Fabregas scored twice to send Arsenal second in the Premier League, four points behind Chelsea but with a game in hand, after brushing aside Aston Villa 3-nil at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal moved at least temporarily up to second place with 38 points.
Manchester United, who play Hull City today, have 37 while Chelsea are on 42.
Chelsea yesterday failed to score for the first time in 34 games and were held to a 0-0 draw at Birmingham City.
With the third and fourth placed sides deadlocked at half-time, Arsenal's Fabregas came on as a second half substitute and fired up the Londoners title challenge with two goals in 16 minutes.
The Spaniard had only been in the pitch for little more than seven minutes when he broke the deadlock, winning a free kick on the edge of the area in the 65th minute.
