Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5

ROBIN VAN PERSIE smashed a stunning hat-trick as Arsenal triumphed in a thriller at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners striker cancelled out Frank Lampard's opener before John Terry gave Chelsea the half-time lead. But Arsenal flew out of the blocks after the break with Andre Santos levelling and Theo Walcott firing them ahead. Juan Mata pegged them back with a brilliant long-range effort before Van Persie struck twice in the last five minutes to secure the victory. It handed the visitors their first Premier League away win since April and left Chelsea trailing behind leaders Manchester City. That piled on the misery for the Blues, who have been under siege in the past week. They have suffered a humiliating defeat at QPR, three red cards, the Terry racism storm, two FA fines and a fan revolt over their stadium plans. Fan reaction to Terry - who denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand - was predictably vocal in support of the skipper. There were cheers from the Chelsea faithful and posters with messages like 'JT is not racist' and 'Captain, Leader, Legend'. But both sets of supporters were soon transfixed by a feast of attacking football. After Ashley Cole twice got in behind the visitors' defence, Chelsea really should have scored. Three of their players beat the Gunners' offside trap but Daniel Sturridge somehow sent his cross straight at Wojciech Szczesny. The home side also looked vulnerable and Gervinho somehow scuffed a tap-in wide after Walcott surged past Cole. The Arsenal winger also picked out captain Van Persie, who volleyed over. It was the Arsenal defence which buckled first after 14 minutes. Mata teased Van Persie and fired in a right-wing cross which the unmarked Lampard stooped to head home. Van Persie again went close before the goalmouth action finally relented until the 29th minute. Then Lampard's flighted ball put Sturridge clean through but the forward got his left-footed finish all wrong. Arsenal made him pay seven minutes later when they equalised with a trademark goal. Ramsey picked out Gervinho's brilliant run and the Ivory Coast striker drew Petr Cech and squared for Van Persie to slot into an empty net. Sturridge thought he had put Chelsea back in front four minutes before the break but was rightly ruled offside poking home Ramires' cross. However, they were gifted the lead on the stroke of half-time through Terry, who got in front of Per Mertesacker to cushion Lampard's corner in. Incredibly, the tables turned within 10 minutes of the restart as Arsenal scored twice to take the lead. Van Persie and Ramsey both missed chances to level inside a minute but Santos did three minutes later. His superb first touch on to Gervinho's ball gave him time to send a strike through Cech's legs and into the net. Chelsea immediately went on the attack and Szczesny appeared lucky not to be sent off when he came rushing out of goal and tripped Cole. It handed the visitors their first Premier League away win since April and left Chelsea trailing behind leaders Manchester City. That piled on the misery for the Blues, who have been under siege in the past week. They have suffered a humiliating defeat at QPR, three red cards, the Terry racism storm, two FA fines and a fan revolt over their stadium plans. Fan reaction to Terry - who denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand - was predictably vocal in support of the skipper. There were cheers from the Chelsea faithful and posters with messages like 'JT is not racist' and 'Captain, Leader, Legend'. But both sets of supporters were soon transfixed by a feast of attacking football. After Ashley Cole twice got in behind the visitors' defence, Chelsea really should have scored. Three of their players beat the Gunners' offside trap but Daniel Sturridge somehow sent his cross straight at Wojciech Szczesny. The home side also looked vulnerable and Gervinho somehow scuffed a tap-in wide after Walcott surged past Cole. The Arsenal winger also picked out captain Van Persie, who volleyed over. It was the Arsenal defence which buckled first after 14 minutes. Mata teased Van Persie and fired in a right-wing cross which the unmarked Lampard stooped to head home. Van Persie again went close before the goalmouth action finally relented until the 29th minute. Then Lampard's flighted ball put Sturridge clean through but the forward got his left-footed finish all wrong. Arsenal made him pay seven minutes later when they equalised with a trademark goal. Ramsey picked out Gervinho's brilliant run and the Ivory Coast striker drew Petr Cech and squared for Van Persie to slot into an empty net. Sturridge thought he had put Chelsea back in front four minutes before the break but was rightly ruled offside poking home Ramires' cross. However, they were gifted the lead on the stroke of half-time through Terry, who got in front of Per Mertesacker to cushion Lampard's corner in. Incredibly, the tables turned within 10 minutes of the restart as Arsenal scored twice to take the lead. Van Persie and Ramsey both missed chances to level inside a minute but Santos did three minutes later. His superb first touch on to Gervinho's ball gave him time to send a strike through Cech's legs and into the net. Chelsea immediately went on the attack and Szczesny appeared lucky not to be sent off when he came rushing out of goal and tripped Cole.