Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1

LONDON (AP):

Arsenal scored three goals in 10 minutes to overwhelm defending English Premier League champions Chelsea 3-1 yesterday and keep the pressure on unbeaten leaders Manchester United in the title race.

Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott found the net for Arsenal, which last beat Chelsea in November 2008 and had not previously scored against the same opponent since May 2009.

Despite Branislav Ivanovic pulling one back by heading in Didier Drogba's free kick in the 57th minute, Chelsea could not come back against a team they had beaten in their last five matches in all competitions.

"We concentrated on pressing, everyone was pressing - we didn't give Chelsea any space at all," Walcott said. "Everything went well. We made Chelsea look average at times. We played some great football and wanted to do it for the fans, because in recent years against Chelsea we've been disappointing."

Arsenal goes to Wigan tomorrow two points behind United in second place, while Chelsea are six points off the lead and have slipped to fourth, just behind Manchester City.

"The result had a double impact," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "Mathematically, it keeps us in touch with the leaders of the league and psychologically it was important. We were questioned about our capability of winning big games."

Miserable run

The win ends Arsenal's miserable run against United and Chelsea, who have shared the Premier League trophy between them since the Gunners lifted it in 2004. Arsenal had previously failed to beat either team in their last 11 encounters in all competitions.

But the loss compounds the problems facing Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose side began with five wins in succession but have now failed to win in the league since November 10.