Arsenal youngsters inflict a 3-1 defeat on the Chelsea pensioners

A burst of goals, one just before half time and two straight after, were enough to make it a great night for Arsene Wenger's young squad and a miserable one for Carlo Ancelotti and his veterans.

Alex Song kept his cool amid a crowded goalmouth to hit a low, assured shot just before half time.

It must have led to quite some pep talk in the break: straight after returning to the pitch Theo Walcott helped Cesc Fabregas fire one into the back of the net, and then Theo quickly knocked one in himself.

It was enough to ensure that a team that had not defeated Chelsea since November 2008 were not going to make it six in a row.

By comparison, reigning Premier League Champions Chelsea went into this London derby having gone five League games in a row without a win.

Now that uncomfortable tally has risen to six: in recent weeks they've picked up just three points from 18 available.

But despite being 3-0 down after fifty minutes, no-one could accuse the boys in blue from giving up and their persistance was rewarded in the 56th minute.

Stretched

Chelsea seemed stretched at times and could do nothing in the face of some sparkling Arsenal breaks. But when Didier Drogba fed in one of his predictably brilliant free kicks, Branislav Ivanovic took advantage and headed home a deserved goal.

For a few minutes after Ivanovic's goal, Arsenal's youngsters started to look tetchy. A yellow for Fabregas means he'll miss the Gunner's next Premier League game.

Chelsea were back in it, and from then on there were near misses and end to end action right up until the final whistle.

This was not a match to leave early from. But in the end it was going to be Arsenal's night. Drogba could have got a free kick in, but didn't. Gael Kakuta edged another free kick over the line, but it was disallowed for being offside.

Arsenal's biggest win in 13 years over Chelsea puts them two points behind League leaders Manchester United.

After the game, Ancelotti was asked if he was afraid of getting the sack. "I am not," he said. "This is a question you have to ask the owner. I'm confident."

He added: "The difference was the quality. Arsenal put more quality on the pitch than us.

"They were able to play with the football. They played better than us.

"We didn't play well. We're in a difficult moment. We need to try and win the game against Bolton.

"We have to continue to work. We worked well these last two weeks. We didn't have a good performance today but we'll try in the next game.

"The table is not good but this is the reality. We have to wake up. Now we are sleeping."

And as he sleeps, what are the chances that Carlo Ancelotti is having nightmares? And in those nightmares, what are the chances that he's being given his P45?

Nick Bradshaw