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 they slipped to third on goal difference as Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea beat Birmingham City 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
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 Theo Walcott and the England striker finished nicely. But Van der Vaart equalised 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 Ancelotti again left out 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 as no more than a consolation.
