Arsenal threw away a 3-1 lead at neighbours Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and with it perhaps their title chances as the two sides shared a 3-3 draw in a pulsating encounter at White Hart Lane.
Goals from Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie had Arsenal in control but Tom Huddlestone and a Rafael van der Vaart penalty - his second goal of the game - secured a draw that neither side really wanted.
The result means Arsenal still trail Manchester United at the top by six points with five games to go but Chelsea leapfrogged them on goal difference after they beat Birmingham City 3-1.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea still have to play United and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he still believed his side could go on to win the title.
"We will fight like mad for the next game," he said. "Of course we can do it - we will try and fight for the next game.
"Of course we have regrets tonight because we were 3-1 up but the second was an outstanding goal and then we conceded a penalty," Wenger said.
"We had a fantastic attitude in the first half but dropped in the second half because it is a massive advantage playing two games of such stature in a matter of days. It is too short to maintain that pace for 90 minutes."
Tottenham remain fifth, two points behind Manchester City in the battle for fourth spot, while Birmingham are still not out of danger, five points above the relegation zone.
Arsenal made the perfect start with the opening goal after just five minutes when Cesc Fabregas fed Walcott and the England striker finished nicely.
But Van der Vaart equalized just two minutes later when Johan Djourou slipped in the area and the Dutchman was too quick to the ball and made no mistake with the finish.
But Arsenal then took control and on 12 minutes they were ahead again when Nasri slammed a shot from about 25 yards, though it did take a slight deflection to take it past Huerelho Gomes.
And when Van Persie slammed in the third with five minutes to go, following up after Gomes had saved his initial header, the visitors looked in total command.
But Tottenham had other ideas and when the ball dropped to Tom Huddlestone, the midfielder rocketed a half-volley past Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.
Tottenham came out firing after the half-time break and Arsenal were having to work double to keep them out, although Van Persie was unlucky to be given off-side when firing in what should have been their fourth.
But the home side would not be denied and when substitute Aaron Lennon broke clear down the left, Szczesny was late coming out and he clipped the winger, giving referee Martin Atkinson no choice but to give the penalty, which Van der Vaart put away in style.
Modric should have finished off a slick move but his side-foot shot was stopped by the left foot of Szczesny and the goalkeeper tipped over a Peter Crouch header, while at the other end, Fabregas had two attempts stopped by Gomes.
Arsenal went for broke with 10 minutes to go when they brought on Nicklas Bendtner and Andriy Arshavin for Walcott and Nasri, but Tottenham went closest to winning it when Sandro shot straight at Szczesny.
Chelsea took full advantage with a confident victory over Birmingham, where Florent Malouda scored twice.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti again left out 50 million-pound striker Fernando Torres for Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, with Nicolas Anelka also left out.
Malouda put Chelsea ahead and Kalou scored a superb second before Malouda made sure of the points in the second half, rendering Sebastian Larsson's penalty no more than a consolation.
Though Wenger said he still believed the title race was open, Ancelotti admitted it would be tough for anyone to stop United.
"In football we have to believe until the referee whistles for the end of the game," the Italian said. "The game is not finished but Manchester United have a fantastic advantage."
Goals from Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie had Arsenal in control but Tom Huddlestone and a Rafael van der Vaart penalty - his second goal of the game - secured a draw that neither side really wanted.
The result means Arsenal still trail Manchester United at the top by six points with five games to go but Chelsea leapfrogged them on goal difference after they beat Birmingham City 3-1.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea still have to play United and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he still believed his side could go on to win the title.
"We will fight like mad for the next game," he said. "Of course we can do it - we will try and fight for the next game.
"Of course we have regrets tonight because we were 3-1 up but the second was an outstanding goal and then we conceded a penalty," Wenger said.
"We had a fantastic attitude in the first half but dropped in the second half because it is a massive advantage playing two games of such stature in a matter of days. It is too short to maintain that pace for 90 minutes."
Tottenham remain fifth, two points behind Manchester City in the battle for fourth spot, while Birmingham are still not out of danger, five points above the relegation zone.
Arsenal made the perfect start with the opening goal after just five minutes when Cesc Fabregas fed Walcott and the England striker finished nicely.
But Van der Vaart equalized just two minutes later when Johan Djourou slipped in the area and the Dutchman was too quick to the ball and made no mistake with the finish.
But Arsenal then took control and on 12 minutes they were ahead again when Nasri slammed a shot from about 25 yards, though it did take a slight deflection to take it past Huerelho Gomes.
And when Van Persie slammed in the third with five minutes to go, following up after Gomes had saved his initial header, the visitors looked in total command.
But Tottenham had other ideas and when the ball dropped to Tom Huddlestone, the midfielder rocketed a half-volley past Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.
Tottenham came out firing after the half-time break and Arsenal were having to work double to keep them out, although Van Persie was unlucky to be given off-side when firing in what should have been their fourth.
But the home side would not be denied and when substitute Aaron Lennon broke clear down the left, Szczesny was late coming out and he clipped the winger, giving referee Martin Atkinson no choice but to give the penalty, which Van der Vaart put away in style.
Modric should have finished off a slick move but his side-foot shot was stopped by the left foot of Szczesny and the goalkeeper tipped over a Peter Crouch header, while at the other end, Fabregas had two attempts stopped by Gomes.
Arsenal went for broke with 10 minutes to go when they brought on Nicklas Bendtner and Andriy Arshavin for Walcott and Nasri, but Tottenham went closest to winning it when Sandro shot straight at Szczesny.
Chelsea took full advantage with a confident victory over Birmingham, where Florent Malouda scored twice.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti again left out 50 million-pound striker Fernando Torres for Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, with Nicolas Anelka also left out.
Malouda put Chelsea ahead and Kalou scored a superb second before Malouda made sure of the points in the second half, rendering Sebastian Larsson's penalty no more than a consolation.
Though Wenger said he still believed the title race was open, Ancelotti admitted it would be tough for anyone to stop United.
"In football we have to believe until the referee whistles for the end of the game," the Italian said. "The game is not finished but Manchester United have a fantastic advantage."
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