Man City earned a memorable victory at Stamford Bridge, where the drama started before kick-off with a first meeting between former Chelsea team mates John Terry and Wayne Bridge since news broke of Terry's alleged affair with Bridge's former girlfriend.
Bridge declined to shake Terry's hand as the teams took to the pitch, and the City defender emerged the happier man as Chelsea finished with nine men and lost their 37-match unbeaten home record.
Welshman Craig Bellamy put City 2-1 ahead six minutes into the second half with an angled shot after a driving run, before Chelsea's Juliano Belletti was sent off in the 75th minute after tripping Gareth Barry in the box, allowing Tevez to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.
Michael Ballack was then dismissed for a tackle from behind on Tevez before Bellamy tapped in at the far post after a quick break from former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, with the home side's nine men really stretched.
Chelsea's loss was Arsenal's gain, with the Gunners dragging themselves right back in to the title race when they came from behind to win 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium in Saturday's late kick-off - Stoke's first defeat of 2010.
However, Arsenal's victory was overshadowed by what looked a horrific injury to Wales midfielder Ramsey who was taken straight to hospital with a suspected broken leg after a challenge from Potters defender Ryan Shawcross that earned the 22-year-old a red card.
The reaction of the players was reminiscent of that following Eduardo da Silva's infamous leg break against Birmingham City two years ago last Tuesday.
