For the first time in a long time, Arsenal and Chelsea could be considered to be on an equal footing.
The Gunners have spent much of the past decade staring up at the Blues, having previously dominated their West London rivals.
But over the years, the fixture has thrown up great moments, controversy and key goals.
Kanu Believe It!
Martin Tyler's bit of commentary summed up a truly extra-ordinary moment in October 1999.
Arsenal had been 2 - 0 down at Stamford Bridge when Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu inspired a 3 - 2 win with a well-taken hat-trick in 15 minutes...
Arsenal were arguably the best team in Europe during the 2003/04 season. Domestically they were in the midst of the Invincibles season and had they beaten Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals, you'd have backed them to conquer Europe with Deportivo de la Coruna, eventual winners FC Porto and Monaco left to negotiate.
But Wayne Bridge had other ideas in the second leg of the quarter-final tie in April 2004, scoring the winner that sent Chelsea through and proved a watershed moment...
Arsenal v. Chelsea 2004 - fanmade video from Mashoudo the First on Vimeo.
Michael Essien, who misses tonight's match scored this stunning late equalizer against the Gunners in December 2006...
The 2007 Carling Cup final between the two clubs was a feisty affair, which also saw John Terry hospitalized, and following this brawl three players were sent off (Adebayor, Kolo Toure and John Obi Mikel) as the Blues won 2 - 1 thanks to Didier Drogba's double...
