Two goals in three minutes, the first conceded in the second half in the league this season, undid a half-time advantage given by an Arsenal own-goal.

The debate is likely to rage long and hard about Van Persie's equaliser, scored as it appeared from an offside position. Until then the majority of the chances were falling Chelsea's way. Djourou had turned the ball past his own keeper on the half-hour to put Arsenal behind.

The first Arsenal goal came on 59 minutes with the winner on 62, again scored by Van Persie, as Felipe Scolari's side slipped to a second home league defeat of the season.

Despite optimism a couple of days ago, Joe Cole was not fit to start the game so Kalou came into the side on the right. Malouda made way on the other flank for Deco, free from his midweek suspension.

Ballack and Lampard were the central men and behind them, Ivanovic continued to be preferred to Alex as John Terry's partner.

Arsenal had players returning from injury, Sagna and Adebayor in at right back and centre-forward respectively and William Gallas was selected in central defence.

It was a purposeful start by Chelsea, and it took a couple of offside flags to halt runs on the Arsenal goal. One, against Kalou, looked a highly-debatable call.

The Ivorian was enjoying a storming start to the game, nicking possession away from dozing Gunners and running with intent at their defence. It was such an attack that won the first corner, successfully defended by the visitors.

However on 13 minutes, Chelsea needed a moment of good fortune when a cross from the right was flicked wide to Fabregas whose shot was kicked away by a sprawling Cech, just out of reach of a rapidly-closing Gallas.

Chelsea began to press for the opener again. Bosingwa lacked composure when crossing after beating his man and then Kalou was again wrongly-flagged after a Mikel ball had found a gap.

Deco seemed to be enjoying the freedom that came with a wider role and good vision by he and Lampard was involved in much of Chelsea's best play.

On 23 minutes, Deco found Bosingwa in space and the cross this time was good, Lampard's firm header caught by Almunia.

Mikel's immense ball-winning abilities were becoming more and more influential and it was such a piece of play that put Chelsea on the attack, halted by a Gallas foul on the edge of the area.

Ballack's free-kick looked goal-bound, until an Arsenal header rose to block.

That was on 29 minutes. Just a minute later, Chelsea took the lead with more than a little help from the visitors. Alumnia rolled the ball out without due care and attention and Bosingwa nipped in.

Mikel and Anelka kept the move alive for Bosingwa to send a cross low to the near post. Kalou had a chance of making it but before he was needed, Djourou stretched out a leg and diverted past his own rooted keeper.

Two minutes later it took a very good Sagna tackle to prevent Kalou making the most of a quality Deco ball and then at the other end, Cech needed to stretch to keep out a Nasri shot.

Another sublime move had Kalou volleying into the keeper's stomach after Anelka had flicked on a Deco chip but again Kalou had been adjudged offside.

Into stoppage time and Chelsea threatened to double the advantage after a committed Deco tackle sent the Blues counter-attacking - Anelka heading the chance wide.

It had been a highly-watchable first half with enough menace in Chelsea's attacking play to give hope for more goals to follow.

The first chance of the second half was Lampard's - scooping a first-time shot wide after a Kalou pass, seeking out Anelka, had rebounded off the Arsenal defence into the midfielder's path.

By Lamps's reaction, he knew it was a good opportunity gone begging.

Chelsea were intent on breaking Arsenal down through the very heart of their defence. When we did work the ball wide, Anelka unfortunately didn't spot Lampard unmarked in the middle and opted for an ambitious shot.

At this stage you could only see one team scoring but on 58 minutes came Arsenal's controversial leveller.

Adebayor won an aerial ball 15 yards outside the Chelsea area and Denilson played through to Van Persie to find the top corner with a shot. When the pass had been made however, the scorer looked a yard or more offside.

There could be less complaint about the Arsenal second goal four minutes later but in between the goals, Terry was booked for a sliding challenge on Sagna.

Van Persie's second was a shot on the turn after Adebayor had won another header. Cech touched it as he dived but could not send it wide.

On 69 minutes Malouda was brought on for Mikel as Scolari looked to turn the tide back in his side's favour. Ballack was asked to play deeper. Malouda was roaming centrally, in behind Anelka.

On 76 minutes, the substitute was allowed to take a free-kick 30 yards out but drove it over the crossbar. Deco had a shooting chance on 80 minutes, but as he was charged down, he also cleared the goal.

Injuries and suspension had left experienced attacking options short and on 81 minutes, Miroslav Stoch was introduced in place of Deco to play wide on the right. It was the 19-year-old's debut.

However in the closing minutes, which included four minutes of added time, it was only Arsenal who were stretching their opponents' defence. Ivanovic completed a difficult second half for the Serb defender by collecting a booking.

The rapid two goals conceded had deflated the previously buoyant Blues.

Chelsea had lost a league game in which we had opened the scoring for the first time since the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham in November 2006.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Malouda 69); Kalou, Ballack, Lampard, Deco (Stoch 81); Anelka.
Scorer Djourou o.g. 30,
Booked Terry 60, Ivanovic 84.

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Almunia (c); Sagna, Djourou, Gallas, Clichy; Denilson, Fabregas (c), Song, Nasri; Van Persie; Adebayor (Bendtner 83).
Scorer Van Persie 59, 62.