Chelsea are up to second place in the table after coming through a stern test, fighting back to win after going a goal down in the second-half. Didier Drogba was the man with the goals.
The record-breaking home league run was in serious danger of ending how it had begun, with defeat to the Gunners, but instead Drogba's sixth and seventh strikes against this opposition extend the total to 78 games.
More importantly, the Blues have kept Man United in sight, the win vital after the Old Trafford outfit had comprehensively beaten Liverpool earlier in the day.
In the one change to the Chelsea starting line-up from the Spurs game, Michael Essien was asked to play right-back for the first time since the Portsmouth home match back in August, and the first time since Avram Grant took charge.
With Paulo Ferreira making way, Michael Ballack came into midfield to fill the hole left by Essien's redeployment.
Arsenal were unchanged from their home draw against Middlesbrough in terms of personnel but altered their shape, opting for a 4-2-3-1 with Eboué and Van Persie out wide and Hleb behind Adebayor in the centre.
In defence and making his first return to Stamford Bridge since his transfer across London was William Gallas.
The Arsenal captain was suitably welcomed by the Chelsea support in the opening minutes but it was another unpopular figure, Eboué - the man who injured John Terry at the corresponding away fixture - who was the first to fall the wrong side of the referee.
Chelsea had been awarded a free-kick 25 yards out, illegally charged by the Ivorian to earn a booking. The retake by Ballack was on-target but saved by Almunia.
Fifteen minutes in, Arsenal had their first shooting chance, an off-balance Van Persie skewing the ball wide after an initial Hleb run had been crowded out.
Chelsea than came under pressure, Terry in the right place to clear after Hleb crossed from Fabregas's play-spreading ball.
When Avram Grant's men did get on the ball, options were proving thin on the ground in attack but on 24 minutes came the first big chance for either team to score.
Terry's ball over the top spun nicely into the path of Drogba who was half-a-yard clear of the defence. His vital touch rebounded off his knee and the opening disappeared into Alumnia's grasp.
That was after 24 minutes, and four minutes later, Cudcini was in action, hurriedly hacking away Ashley Cole's back pass after Arsenal had again put the ball into the danger area from the left.
On 30 minutes, Drogba sent a cross over from that same flank that a sliding Ballack was only a yard or two away from converting at the far post. A minute later, Joe Cole caught Van Persie late outside the Arsenal area and was booked. Two minutes later, Ballack followed into the notebook for sliding into the back of Hleb in similar territory.
On 38 minutes, Arsenal won the first corner of the game, headed on by Touré at the near post and turned against the other upright by Gallas, although by then the offside flag was up.
Now Arsenal gave away a free-kick, played in by Lampard and as Terry battled, Kalou air-kicked his big close-range chance before Arsenal cleared.
The throw that followed was knocked into the area but Ballack's shot was safely pouched by the keeper down at his near post.
The half ended with a collision in the Arsenal box between Kalou and Eboué but although the crowd shouted loud for a spot-kick, referee Clattenburg was unmoved.
Going down the tunnel, the visitors had enjoyed more of the ball in opposing territory, but the Blues could point to more on-target shots and other good chances not taken.
Cudicini was in action within seconds of the restart, saving one-handed from Flamini as a cross from the left skimmed off the defence.
On 54 minutes, Drogba was once again played in early, this time by Joe Cole but under heavy pressure from Arsenal, he flashed wide.
Two minutes later, some swift Arsenal passing saw Hleb and Flamini set-up Adebayor for a rare sight at goal but he shot straight at Cudicini.
On 58 minutes, Arsenal won their first corner of the second half and from it took the lead.
Played into the near post area by Fabregas, Sagna darted in front of Kalou to head. With no-one on the post, Cudicini was helpless to keep it out.
Chelsea had the chance to level within two minutes through the unlikely source of Ashley Cole, but found unmarked at the far post by Joe Cole, he headed well off-target.
Arsenal then went briefly down to ten men after Sagna turned his ankle when all alone. At the same time the Arsenal right-back was receiving treatment, running repairs were carried out on Carvalho's bleeding head, that injury suffered in a clash of heads with Flamini.
Ballack bounced a shot into the ground from 12 yards out to his own disgust. It was his last action, replaced by Belletti at the same time Anelka came on for Makelele as the formation switched to 4-4-2 with Essien into midfield. At the same time, Sagna was eventually replaced.
A minute later with 71 on the clock came the equaliser. Lampard surged into the area but as the ball broke of a defender, Drogba slammed it in first time from 15 yards. The man who so often does the business against the Gunners was booked for his joyous shirt-off celebration.
On 80 minutes, he made no such transgression when netting the second. The striker taking two touches after a Belletti free-kick came his way via Anelka's flick, Almunia got his hand to the shot but could not keep it out.
'Gallas, Gallas, what's the score?' sang Stamford Bridge in full voice.
Only an Alumnia full-stretch save prevented the hat-trick as Drogba drilled Essien's lay-back in low.
Chelsea were asked to make it through five minutes stoppage time, and could have extended the lead after Drogba robbed Gallas but his ball across was just out of reach of Kalou.
The extra goal was not needed. The Blues had won a vital match against fellow title race challengers to keep our own chances very much alive. Man United are five points ahead with a visit to Stamford Bridge still to come.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Essien, Terry (c), Carvalho, A Cole; Ballack (Belletti 72), Makelele (Anelka 72), Lampard; J Cole (Mikel 88), Drogba, Kalou.
Scorer Drogba 74, 80.
Booked J Cole 31, Ballack 33, Drogba 72.
Scorer Sagna 58
Booked Eboué 4
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