Chelsea regained their dominant place in the Premier League title race with a 3-0 win at the Emirates today that restored their five-point lead over Manchester United.
Two goals from Didier Drogba and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal made the difference as Arsenal, who had won their previous 11 home games in all competitions, struggled to make an impression on a Chelsea defence that has conceded just eight goals in 14 league games.
The match encapsulated the key differences between the two London sides as Chelsea's powerful lineup outmuscled Arsenal's lightweights and, when in sight of goal, went for the jugular.
In contrast, Arsenal were content to play endless passes around the box in attacks that all too often petered out thanks to over-elaboration.
Chelsea top the standings on 36 points, five clear of United, who won 4-1 at Portsmouth on Saturday with a Wayne Rooney hat-trick. Tottenham Hotspur are third on 26 with Arsenal, who last won the title in 2004, fourth on 25.
Liverpool, who won 2-0 at Everton earlier today, are fifth on 23.
There was barely an effort on goal in the opening 40 minutes at the Emirates but the game exploded into life with two near-identical goals in the last four minutes of the half.
The first came when John Terry slipped a nice pass into the stride of Ashley Cole and when he whipped in a low cross Drogba somehow found space on edge of the six-yard box and steered an excellent side-footed volley into the roof of the net.
Former Arsenal man Cole, relentlessly booed by the home fans, repeated the delivery three minutes later and in an attempt to prevent the ball reaching Drogba, Vermaelen deflected it into his own net in the same spot as the first goal.
Arsenal did have the ball in the net four minutes after the restart but Andrei Arshavin's goal was ruled out for a challenge on Petr Cech by Eduardo and for all their neat passing and midfield probing they struggled to fashion much in the way of clear chances.
Instead, Manuel Almunia had to make a good diving save to keep out a deflected Drogba shot and when Arsenal eventually ran out of steam Drogba completed an impressive victory by planting a free kick beyond the diving keeper four minutes from time.
In the day's other big derby Liverpool ended a bleak week on a high note with a morale-lifting victory.
Liverpool, whose hopes of reaching the knockout phase of the Champions League disappeared in midweek, took a fortunate early lead when Javier Mascherano's speculative shot was deflected past Tim Howard by Everton defender Joseph Yobo.
Hard-working Everton had two goals ruled out for offside and were then denied by a great double-save by Pepe Reina before Dirk Kuyt finished it 10 minutes from time, seizing on Howard's parry of an Alberto Riera shot after another Yobo blunder.
"A derby is always very difficult and also very important so a win today could set us up for the rest of the season," said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.