Robin van Persie scored two goals in three second half-minutes to reignite Arsenal’s Barclays Premier League title challenge in sensational fashion.

The Dutchman scored a controversial equaliser just before the hour, cancelling out Johan Djourou’s first-half own goal, from a suspiciously offside position, though there was no doubt about the second, a clinical first-time shot on the turn that nestled in the corner of Petr Cech’s net. Arsene Wenger’s side may still have a mammoth task ahead of them, trailing Chelsea and Liverpool, who have a game in hand, by seven points, but their race would surely have been run with defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger had stated before this match that the only way Arsenal could possibly get back into contention was to beat all their nearest rivals. But it was the home side who made the more assured start. The first chance came after five minutes when hesitation by Bacary Sagna, the Arsenal full back, was seized upon by Nicolas Anelka, who cut into the area from the left. Cesc Fabregas slid in and the striker tumbled, but referee Mike Dean was right on top of the incident and waved play on.

Chelsea were enjoying a good spell and broke quickly following an Arsenal corner through Salomon Kalou, whose fine run was eventually halted by Gael Clichy before Anelka's follow-up shot was blocked behind.

At the other end, a deep cross from the right by Adebayor found its way through to Samir Nasri at the far post. Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, made a smart save with his legs, and the ball bounced just inches clear of William Gallas, the former Chelsea defender, in the six-yard box.

But Manuel Almunia was by far the busier goalkeeper and was called into action again on 24 minutes, this time to grasp hold of a glancing header from Frank Lampard following Jose Bosingwa's right-wing cross.

Chelsea made the breakthrough after 31 minutes after some sloppy defensive play by the visitors. With his defenders still streaming out, Almunia threw the ball out early and immediately conceded possession. Jose Bosingwa collected the ball out on the right and put a searching, low cross into the middle which Djourou felt compelled to deal with. The young Frenchman stuck out a leg and only succeeded in diverting the ball past the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Having been gifted the opening goal in many respects, Chelsea seemed intent on repaying the favour moments later. Van Persie was quickest to react after Branislav Ivanovic was unable to deal with a searching cross from the right and prodded a right-foot shot which was expertly pushed aside by Cech. Ashley Cole then inexplicably tried to beat Denilson inside his own area and gave the ball away, but Arsenal’s Brazilian went down far to theatrically to expect to win a penalty from the referee.

Lampard hooked a disappointing shot wide seven minutes into the second half before van Persie turned the game on its head. Just before the hour the Dutchman tip-toed along the end of edge of the Arsenal defensive line before bending his run to collect a threaded ball from Denilson. Van Persie lashed the ball into the top corner with his supposedly weaker right foot, though television replays showed he had been a yard offside.

With Chelsea still stunned, van Persie produced another sublime finish just three minutes later. Emmanuel Adebayor rose highest inside the penalty area to win the knock-down and in an instant, his striker partner swivelled and produced a wonderful finish which found went through Frank Lampard’s legs and gave Cech no chance.

The expected Chelsea fightback never really materialised and a sobering thought for Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager, is that his side only managed one shot on target all afternoon.