Didier Drogba scored two late goals as Chelsea came from behind to claim a victory which took them above Arsenal into second place and underlined their claim to be the main challengers to Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

The Ivory Coast international produced an emphatic right-foot finish with 18 minutes left after Juliano Belletti’s long pass had dropped to him in the penalty area, cancelling out Bacary Sagna’s opener for the visitors just before the hour. Not satisfied with apparently having preserved Chelsea’s 77-game unbeaten home record, Drogba was on target nine minutes from time after Nicolas Anelka had headed down another ball from Belletti.

Drogba, who for much of the season has been been a shadow of the player who scored 33 goals last term, looked back to his best and was denied a hat-trick when Manuel Almunia made a magnificent save low down at his near-post late on.

Chelsea are five points behind Manchester United, who emphatically beat Liverpool 3-0 earlier in the day, and can be confident they are still in with a chance of bridging the gap with Alex Ferguson’s side still to come to Stamford Bridge on April 26.

Arsenal are only a further point adrift, though this result must surely sound the death knell to their title hopes for another season. Arsene Wenger’s slumping side have not won in their last five league games, dropping 11 points in the process.

Already aware of the result from Old Trafford, both these teams entered the second half of grand slam Sunday knowing that victory was a prerequisite and that a draw would hand an all-but unassailable lead to the reigning champions.

In an open and entertaining match both had chances, though the opening goal eventually arrived from a 59th-minute setpiece.

Frank Lampard was drawn to Cesc Fabregas’s corner from the left, leaving no one guarding the near post and Sagna scored with a firm downward header.

There was an air of controversy about Chelsea’s equaliser, with television replays showing that Drogba had been fractionally offside when the original pass had been played. Arsenal will also argue that the striker gave William Gallas a little nudge in the back before firing home his winner.

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