A win that equals our biggest in the league away to Arsenal has guaranteed automatic Champions League qualification for next season.

In a London derby with plenty of chances at both ends, it was the Blues who were far more ruthless, an Alex header followed by Anelka's 17^th in the league this season making it 2-0 by the break.

Arsenal gave us the third shortly after the interval through an own-goal and then put pressure on by scoring at the correct end. However Florent Malouda completed the four-goal haul shortly before the end.

It may not have healed the wounds after the Champions League heartbreak, but it was still a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon in north London.                                               

Drogba was selected from the start in a line-up with just one change from the Barcelona game. That was Mikel in for Ballack.

There was no Arshavin for Arsenal, the Russian reported as ill on Saturday, and Manuel Almunia had an ankle injury so Fabianski was in goal, his dodgy display in the semi-final at Wembley still fresh in the memory.

Within 20 seconds Arsenal put the Chelsea goal under pressure, the direct running of Walcott the cause. When the ball broke back his way after a tackle, he shot well over.

It then needed Cech to stand strong at the near post to keep out Walcott when the winger burst behind the Chelsea defence on the right and shot from an angle.

Chelsea's start to the game had been quiet but Drogba began to put his side on the front foot by pressuring Silvestre in to some hurried defending. Then Lampard shot over from the edge of the area.

However Arsenal came back and there was a huge let-off when Diaby sliced wide when it was easier to score after Arsenal had sliced through the middle of our defence with some one-touch passing.

Walcott volleyed a couple of yards wide after Diaby had advanced down an open left flank and crossed. Arsenal's 4-1-4-1 shape meant they were not outnumbered in midfield in this meeting and the Blues were looking stretched at the back too often for comfort.

Not that we didn't have the means to open the home side up as well, as Cole demonstrated on 20 minutes as he took a return pass, skipped beyond Sagna and laid the ball across to Drogba. The shot was on-target but lacked the power to beat covering defender Silvestre. The best Blues chance yet.

Arsenal wastefulness continued when Song missed from close range following a scramble when Bosingwa skied a clearance. They would pay for it.

Fabergas was booked by referee Phil Dowd for suggesting a dive when whistled up for a foul on Drogba. The punishment didn't end there. Drogba himself swung the free-kick over and Alex, scorer of famous headed goal for PSV that knocked Arsenal out of Europe, repeated the feat with a header that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Twenty-eight minutes had passed and we were ahead for the first time in this stadium.

'Going home in a minute,' sang the Chelsea fans in acknowledgement of the efficient ground evacuation here against Man United.

Fabianski made a hash of coming for a corner soon after but Arsenal escaped, as did their captain when already-carded Fabregas was only lectured after what looked a bookable foul on Malouda. Our opponents could so easily have been down to 10 men.

Cole hacked away from our own goal-line after Van Persie backheeled a cross towards the target after one quick counter-attack.

A sunny afternoon in north London became even brighter 38 minutes in when Anelka scored one of his best goals since arriving at Chelsea. Receiving the ball midway inside the Chelsea half, he drifted into space and smashed an outswinging shot from 25 yards that Fabianski, lacking spring in his dive, comprehensively failed to keep out.

The Blues really should have put the game to bed in stoppage time at the end of the half when Essien and Malouda spread their backline apart but Anelka shot straight at the keeper's legs. Even so, our 2-0 lead was sufficient for home support booing as the teams headed down the tunnel.

It took just three minutes of the second half for that third goal to be added. Cole, enjoying a fabulous game in the face of the inevitable jeers, once again raced away down his flank onto a ball over the top. He tried to pick out Drogba but the centre-forward was not needed. Touré in trying to cut the cross out turned it inside the post.

Van Persie was allowed a run on goal soon after when clearly offside (sound familiar?) but checking onto his left, his shot was pushed wide by Cech, another player enjoying a strong game.

Walcott yet again wasted a very presentable chance on 57 minutes when he blasted across the goal with team-mates waiting in the middle.

Bendtner was the first substitute used in the game, coming on for Diaby and playing in the same wide-left role as the man withdrawn. It didn't stop Chelsea from continuing to find spaces in and around their area and the next chance was fashioned by our two full-backs, Cole crossing and Bosingwa volleying over with his right. 

Arsenal pulled their goal back on 69 minutes, shortly after making a double substitution, when Sagna crossed and Bendtner climbed above the defence to head home.

Worryingly, the Dane almost repeated the trick five minutes later from another Sagna cross as he beat Bosingwa in the air - but this time Cech saved.

Hiddink reacted, bringing on Ivanovic for Bosingwa to increase aerial power in the area where Bendtner was operating.

Lampard was then denied a clear run on goal after a clever Drogba chip over the top by an incorrect offside flag. There were just under 10 minutes remaining and goals at either end looked more than possible.

It took fantastic reactions from Cech to keep out a Silvestre shot from close range after a prolonged scramble. Adebayor then failed to win a penalty with a blatant dive when challenged by Cech. The striker was not booked.

The fourth Chelsea goal came with four minutes of normal time remaining, Malouda initially shooting against Fabianski's legs when sent through by a brilliant Lampard flick. There was no need for him to despair.

The ball came out to Anelka whose shot from out wide smashed onto the near post and fell for Malouda to turn in.

Arsenal's 21-game unbeaten league run had come to an end in emphatic style. The Chelsea players celebrated in the corner where our supporters were housed, with Didier Drogba receiving his own big ovation.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic 76), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda (Ballack 88); Drogba.
Scorers Alex 28, Anelka 38, Touré o.g 48, Malouda 84.

Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Touré, Silvestre, Gibbs; Song (Denilson 67); Walcott (Adebayor 67), Fàbregas (c), Nasri, Diaby (Bendtner 59); Van Persie.
Scorer Bendtner 70.
Booked Fabregas 26

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight.