Arsenal gave their hopes a significant boost with a memorable 4-2 win away at in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
The Gunners had lost three games on the spin before the trip to Stamford Bridge but ended that run in style at the home of the European champions.
An Eddie Nketiah brace, a strike from and late penalty from Bukayo Saka won the points for Mikel Arteta’s men, while Timo Werner and Cesar Azpilicueta’s goals could do nothing for the Blues.
Arsenal remain fifth despite the win, but go level on points with Tottenham in fourth, behind on goal difference by eight.
However, the Gunners know that the top four is in their hands as they must still travel across north London to take on Spurs next month.
Chelsea remain third, where they seem destined to finish this season, five points ahead of Spurs with a game in hand.
It was hard to know what to expect from this game but few would have predicted the goal-fest that emerged.
It was that took a surprise lead just 13 minutes into the contest as Andreas Christensen completely fluffed his lines and allowed Nketiah to run in on goal, and despite not scoring all season beforehand, coolly finish past .
The lead lasted just four minutes as the in-form Werner scored something of a fortunate goal as his tame-looking effort took a significant deflection and bobbled past Aaron Ramsdale.
The thrilling first half was all-action, though, and the Gunners were back ahead 10 minutes later as Emile Smith Rowe finished off a sweeping counter-attack, expertly finishing a well-weighted pass from Martin Odegaard.
Again they couldn’t hang on for long, though, as Azpilicueta popped up on the edge of the six-yard box to poke home a beautiful in-swinging cross from Mason Mount on the left flank.
The half-time break was very much required after the non-stop first stanza and the second period started at a less chaotic pace, however, the surprises were not at an end.
Nuno Tavares got hold of a loose pass in midfield and played the ball into the feet of Nketiah on the edge of the box.
The young striker got some fortune as he tried to beat three defenders, the ball pinballed around and returned to his feet to poke past Mendy.
Chelsea could not provide much threat even as they pushed for an equaliser and they ended up conceding again as Azpilicueta hauled down Saka late on and the England international slotted home the penalty.
It was a strange foul from Azpilicueta on Saka, with the Chelsea man feeling he was being dragged down himself, but the referee and VAR decided it was a penalty.
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