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Van Persie double sinks Big Phil's men

30/11/2008

Chelsea's miserable week has been capped off by losing 2-1 to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues led through Johan Djourou's own goal on the half-hour mark but the Gunners kept their title hopes alive thanks to two goals in three minutes from Robin Van Persie.

Chelsea will lose top spot tomorrow if Liverpool get at least a point against West Ham United while Arsenal climb to fourth place.

After their disappointing draw in midweek against Bordeaux, the Blues were again under the cosh in the early stages against Arsene Wenger's men.

William Gallas came agonizingly close to netting against his old club but failed to get a shot in after Petr Cech had beaten away Samir Nasri's strike.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's men eventually found their rhythm and came close when Frank Lampard's header from ten yards was saved by Manuel Almunia from Jose Bosingwa's right-wing cross.

And the Portuguese right-back was the provider for the home side's opener on 31 minutes when his cross was stabbed into his own net by Djourou.

The visitors continued to carve out the better chances with Van Persie's fierce half volley tipped away by Cech while Denilson lashed a shot wide from close range.

After absorbing pressure from an improving Chelsea, the Gunners equalized in controversial circumstances when Denilson played in van Persie who thumped the ball into the roof of the net from 20 yards on 59 minutes. But replays showed the Dutchman was a yard off-side when he received Denilson's through ball.

Scolari's men then rode their luck when John Terry was only shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean for a crunching two-footed challenge on Bacary Sagna.

Three minutes after scoring his first goal, van Persie repeated the trick when he swiveled and hammered a low shot into the corner from Emmanuel Adebayor's flick-on.

And the strike came close to grabbing a memorable hat-trick but fired a free-kick inches over the bar.

Scolari, who has failed to taste victory against any of his title rivals so far this season, brought on teenager Miroslav Stoch and Florent Malouda in the closing stages.

But despite four minutes of stoppage time, Arsenal held on to move seven points behind their London rivals.