Ben Mee scored a late equaliser as Burnley came away from Stamford Bridge with a share of the spoils while Swansea City came from behind to defeat Manchester United in another Premier League match on Saturday.
Chelsea went into the encounter against Sean Dyche’s Burnley with a chance to open a 10-point gap at the top and Serbian full-back Branislav Ivanovic had them on their way with a first half goal.
A dramatic end to the encounter though saw Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic sent off minutes before Mee scored Burnley’s equaliser.
The result gives second placed Manchester City a chance to go within five points of Chelsea when they host Newcastle United in Saturday’s late kick-off.
Meanwhile at the Liberty Stadium, Ander Herrera kept up his recent good form by putting Man. United ahead against the Swans.
South Korean Ki Sung-Yeung however restored parity a minute later before setting up Jonjo Shelvey for the winner in the second half.
Man. United’s 2-1 loss allowed Arsenal to rise into third spot, ahead of the Red Devils on goal difference courtesy of a 2-1 win at fellow Londoners Crystal Palace in a match that saw Olivier Giroud score his 50th goal for the Gunners.
Santi Cazorla had put Arsenal in front with a penalty, but the Gunners were most fortunate to come away from Selhurst Park with all three points as substitute Glenn Murray pulled one back in the fourth minute of stoppage time before the Eagles saw another effort come off the post.
Elsewhere in the Premier League on Saturday, QPR captain Joey Barton got sent off as the Londoners fell 2-1 at Hull City while Victor Moses scored the winner from the penalty spot as Stoke City came from behind to beat Aston Villa by the same score.