Newcastle and Tottenham both claimed Premier League wins on Wednesday to continue their top-four push.
The Magpies bagged a superb 2-0 win at Chelsea thanks to two wonder strikes from Papiss Cisse, a result which leaves the Blues struggling in the race to make the top four.
Cisse put the visitors in front on 19 minutes with a vicious left-foot strike and then sealed with win late on - Newcastle's first in the league at the Bridge since 1986 - when he netted an even better goal, his 13th in 12 league games since arriving from Freiburg in January.
The Senegal forward received the ball out wide on the left following a throw-in and then surprised everyone in the ground by turning and hitting the ball with the outside of his right foot, curling it over Petr Cech and into the net.
The goal came in injury time, a result of a lengthy stoppage following an injury to midfielder Cheick Tiote, who left the pitch on a stretcher while receiving oxygen following an aerial challenge with John Obi Mikel.
However, after the game boss Alan Pardew said he was hopefully Tiote would be able to play at the weekend having had a large cut stitched.
The defeat was Chelsea's first at home under Roberto Di Matteo and leaves them four points behind both Newcastle and Tottenham with just two games to go.
Tottenham currently hold fourth place after a 4-1 win at Bolton, who were plunged deeper into relegation trouble.
Luka Modric's impressive strike put Spurs ahead before the break but Nigel Reo-Coker equalised six minutes after the interval.
The visitors, who came into the match having never won at the Reebok Stadium in the league, were soon back in front though via Rafael van der Vaart.
Emmanuel Adebayor then added two goals to seal victory for Harry Redknapp's men, who were clearly the better side in the second half, with Modric and Gareth Bale to the fore.
Spurs and Newcastle are now both just a point behind Arsenal in third, a position that will definitely earn a Champions League berth.
Fourth place may not. If Chelsea win this season's Champions League and do not finish in the top four, the fourth-placed finisher will instead have to compete in the Europa League.
As for Bolton, they remain in the relegation zone. They trail QPR, who occupy the last position of safety, by goal difference.
At least there was some good news for the Trotters off the pitch with midfielder Fabrice Muamba able to watch the game from the stands. He suffered a heart attack when Bolton met Spurs in an FA Cup tie March but before this game he thanked fans for their support by making a tearful appearance on the pitch.
TOP FOUR RUN-IN
Arsenal - Pld 36 Pts 66 GD +24
May 5 - Norwich H
May 13 - West Brom A
Tottenham - Pld 36 Pts 65 GD +23
May 6 - Aston Villa A
May 13 - Fulham H
Newcastle - Pld 36 Pts 65 GD +9
May 6 - Manchester City H
May 13 - Everton A
Chelsea - Pld 36 Pts 61 GD +21
May 8 - Liverpool A
May 13 - Blackburn H
RELEGATION RUN-IN
Aston Villa - Pld 36 Pts 37 GD -14
May 6 - Tottenham H
May 13 - Norwich A
Wigan - Pld 36 Pts 37 GD -22
May 7 - Blackburn A
May 13 - Wolves H
QPR - Pld 36 Pts 34 GD -23
May 6 - Stoke H
May 13 - Manchester City A
Bolton - Pld 36 Pts 34 GD -31
May 6 - West Brom H
May 13 - Stoke A
Blackburn - Pld 36 Pts 31 GD -28
May 7 - Wigan H
May 13 - Chelsea A
