The Frenchman put Chelsea ahead when he headed home Jose Bosingwa’s cross after nine minutes, and Deco wrapped up the points with a superb scissors-kick.

The Blues had chances for a third, but Bolton responded valiantly late on.

Gary Cahill wasted their best chance, though, as Chelsea set a new record of 11 straight top-flight away victories.

It surpassed the record set by Tottenham in 1960 and Chelsea will be encouraged by the omens as Spurs went on to win the league in the 1960-61 season.

And Luiz Felipe Scolari will know that if Chelsea can replicate their away form at Stamford Bridge they will be in with a shout come next May, for this was a fine win that keeps up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, who also won.

Johan Djourou turned Jose Bosingwa’s cross into his own net after 31 minutes to give Chelsea the lead as Arsenal’s title challenge looked to be in danger of suffering a potentially fatal blow.

And then, with Chelsea the dominant force, Van Persie delivered two crucial blows to earn Arsene Wenger’s side a priceless victory.

In a one-sided first half, only keeper Paul Robinson kept Rovers in it, saving well from Anelka and Jon Obi Mikel.

However, he could do little when Anelka deflected in Jose Bosingwa’s drive.

Rovers rallied in the second half, Petr Cech saving from Jason Roberts having earlier denied Carlos Villanueva, but Anelka clipped in a second to seal it.

Alex began the rout, tapping in when Marton Fulop allowed Joe Cole’s shot to squirm free, and it was quickly 2-0 when Anelka met Frank Lampard’s cross.

Florent Malouda unselfishly set up Anelka to add a third goal and Lampard headed in Cole’s cross to make it four.

Anelka fired home from Malouda’s cross to complete the scoring inside an hour.

Stamford Bridge may no longer be seen as an unbreachable fortress after Liverpool’s victory there last weekend but, for Chelsea, this was the perfect riposte to seeing their 86-match unbeaten run ended in their last outing on home soil.

Frank Lampard’s brilliant early lob put Chelsea ahead but Daniel Cousin almost equalised with a low strike from 20 yards that hit the post.

Suicidal hesitation in the Hull defence allowed Nicolas Anelka to steal in and smash home Chelsea’s decisive second.

Florent Malouda then converted Ricardo Carvalho’s cross from six yards.

Hull had beaten the four previous London clubs they had met this season – Fulham, Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham – but they were brought back down to earth by Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso’s deflected 10th-minute goal gave Liverpool victory and shattered a Chelsea sequence stretching back to February 2004 on home turf.

It was a deserved triumph for Rafael Benitez’s side achieved without Fernando Torres and the first setback for the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso’s deflected 10th-minute goal gave Liverpool victory and shattered a Chelsea sequence stretching back to February 2004 on home turf.

It was a deserved triumph for Rafael Benitez’s side achieved without Fernando Torres and the first setback for the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.

Salomon Kalou began the rout, stroking in after Juliano Belletti’s shot had been blocked and Belletti made it 2-0 with a stunning 30-yard shot.

Kalou got his second when his low strike deflected off David Wheater before Frank Lampard’s diving header rounded off a superb Chelsea breakaway.

Florent Malouda tapped in the fifth after Nicolas Anelka had hit the post.

Chelsea’s intent was clear from the start – move the ball quickly, play with fluency and control and retain possession.

The Blues were dominant throughout and Joe Cole drilled home the opener after running on to Frank Lampard’s pass.

Nicolas Anelka got the second when he finished off after Brad Friedel had kept out his first effort and an initial shot from Michael Ballack.

Anelka also hit the bar, while Villa failed to seriously test Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.