Reuters
Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner (right) celebrates with teammates Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Emmanuel Adebayor after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday. Arsenal won 2-1.

LONDON (Reuters):

ARSENAL GUARANTEED themselves Christmas dinner as Premier League leaders after they beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Emirates yesterday to open a four-point lead.

Arsenal, below their best for much of the game, won with a 76th-minute header by Nicklas Bendtner to move to 43 points, four ahead of Manchester United, who play in-form Everton today.

Chelsea, also in action today at Blackburn Rovers, are third on 34.

Manchester City, who drew 1-1 at Aston Villa, remain fourth on 34 with Liverpool fifth on 33 after Fernando Torres scored twice in their 4-1 home win over Portsmouth that ended the south coast club's six-game run of away league wins.

West Ham United and Reading claimed late goals to secure 2-1 wins over Middlesbrough and Sunderland, respectively, while Bolton Wanderers beat Birmingham City 3-0.

Fulham, who sacked manager Lawrie Sanchez on Friday, drew 1-1 at home with Wigan Athletic, who ended a run of seven consecutive away defeats.

Tottenham, who have now gone 20 league and Cup games without beating Arsenal, missed their chance yesterday.

Second-half lead

Arsenal took the lead three minutes into the second half when a backheel by Cesc Fabregas set up Emmanuel Adebayor for his 10th league goal this season.

Dimitar Berbatov levelled from a tight angle in the 66th minute but, after the Bulgarian was then tripped in the box, Robbie Keane had his penalty saved by Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal took almost immediate advantage when 19-year-old Danish striker Bendtner came off the bench to power home a header from a Fabregas corner with his first touch.

"We were a bit flat in the first half and Tottenham played well," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

"In the second half, I feel we increased the pace of the game and dominated it but at 1-0 we maybe wanted to keep that result and slowed it down.

"Then the turning point came when we had the luck with the penalty save, that was a mental blow for them."

Liverpool, whose defeat by Manchester United last week probably ended their chances of a first league title since 1990, were back on song against Portsmouth, whose only other away defeats this season came at Arsenal and Chelsea.

Yossi Benayoun volleyed in a Harry Kewell cross after 13 minutes and a Sylvain Distin own goal soon after seemed to have Liverpool in control.

Benjani Mwaruwari pulled one back in the 57th minute but Torres took centre stage with two goals to take his seasonal tally to 13.