Arsene Wenger's landmark day ended in embarrassment for the Arsenal manager and elation for Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho.
Referee Andre Marriner was left equally red-faced, though, after dismissing the wrong Arsenal player in Chelsea's 6-0 win on Saturday -- giving Kieran Gibbs a red card after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made a diving save with his hand on the goalline.
The 15th-minute sending off was hardly a turning point in the derby, though, as Arsenal had already conceded twice inside seven minutes of Wenger's 1,000th match in charge.
The official pointed to the spot when a right-foot shot from Eden Hazard was tipped around the post by the left hand of Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Yet Marriner ordered Gibbs to leave the field, despite television replays showing Oxlade-Chamberlain apparently telling the official, “Ref, it was me!”
Gibbs continued to protest his innocence as he walked off, before Hazard slotted home the spot-kick.
Oscar added a brace of goals either side of half-time, before substitute Mohamed Salah completed Chelsea’s most emphatic win over Arsenal with his team’s sixth.
At half-time, fourth official Anthony Taylor confirmed to television broadcasters that Gibbs’s red card had been a case of mistaken identity.
But regardless of the referee’s mistake, this was another shambolic defensive performance by Wenger’s Arsenal, who had previously conceded six goals at Manchester City and five at Liverpool this season.
And Arsenal crumbled further against the leaders after Eden Hazard converted the penalty kick, dropping to fourth in the standings as their title rivals all won.
Man City 5-0 Fulham
Yaya Toure netted a hat-trick to keep Manchester City on course in their Premier League title push with a 5-0 win over basement boys Fulham.
Cottagers centre-back Fernando Amorebieta endured a game to forget at the Etihad Stadium as he gave away a penalty in each half - both converted by Toure.
The latter, a woeful challenge on City playmaker David Silva, resulted in a red card - the first in English football for a player dismissed a remarkable 11 times during his time at former club Athletic Bilbao.
Toure saved his best until last, arching home an exquisite 30-yard strike that had echoes of his effort in City's Capital One Cup triumph over Sunderland at the start of the month to bring up 20 goals for the season.
His midfield partner Fernadinho got in on the act with five minutes to play and Martin Demichelis enjoyed a tap-in to complete the scoring.
The result lifts Manuel Pellegrini's team to third in the table, six points behind Chelsea ahead of the first of their three games in hand on the leaders at Manchester United on Tuesday, while Fulham remain rooted to the bottom.
England midfielder James Milner saw David Stockdale beat his half-volley to safety in the 17th minute but it was a largely disjointed start by the title challengers.
Fulham's rookie forward Cauley Woodrow drew an important 23rd-minute block from Joleon Lescott before Kieran Richardson thumped the rebound narrowly wide.
There ended an enterprising period for the visitors, and they fell behind three minutes later as City found favour with their third penalty shout of the game.
Steve Sidwell escaped censure twice during the first quarter of an hour, but the assistant referee flagged for a spot kick when Amorebieta clumsily caught Alvaro Negredo in the back under a high ball. Toure converted nonchalantly, sending Stockdale the wrong way.
Sascha Riether, a surprise selection in holding midfield for Fulham, might have restored parity but headed over under pressure from Aleksandar Kolarov.
Amorebieta went some way to atoning for his error by heading Silva's delicate 37th-minute chip off the line but the centre-back should have levelled when left unmarked from a Kieran Richardson corner, before Kolarov concluded the half by rifling a trademark drive against the crossbar.
If Amorebieta suffered from an element of misfortune on City’s first penalty, there was no excuse for his poor decision eight minutes into the second period.
Once more, Silva left the Fulham defence in his wake and a reckless lunge from Amorebieta left refreee Jon Moss with little option other than to point to the spot and issue a straight red card to a player already booked for his previous infringement.
Toure again made no mistake, and Fulham boss Felix Magath's decision to send on 17-year-old Patrick Roberts for a debut suggested he knew the game was up.
Speculative efforts from Milner and Kolarov flew off target before Toure showed them how to do it with his sensational third.
City threatened a rout and it duly arrived - Fernandinho gliding past William Kvist to beat Stockdale at his near post before Demichelis netted his first goal for the club late on.
Manchester City climbed above Arsenal into third place with a 5-0 victory over Fulham, while second-place Liverpool won 6-3 at Cardiff. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Arsene Wenger this march is a shame to you, your coaching exprience as expired over time, hand off Arsenal Fc to a purposeful coach who is ready to win trophy for us. Up Gunners
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