Arsenal beat Tottenham 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to maintain a seven-year unbeaten streak against its north London rival.
Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring and Gilberto Silva scored from two debated penalties in the first north London derby at Emirates Stadium.
”They looked to me to be penalties but it happens in some games that you don’t get them,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. ”You have to work hard for your luck and we did today.”
Craig Bellamy scored twice in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Wigan — its first away win of the season — while, elsewhere, it was: Blackburn 2, Fulham 0; Portsmouth 2, Aston Villa 2; Reading 1, Bolton 0; and Sheffield United 2, Charlton 1.
Later on Saturday, Manchester United could open up a six-point lead over idle Chelsea if it beats Middlesbrough. It leads with 38 points, followed by Chelsea with 35.
Only one point separates the next six sides. Arsenal moved up to third with 25 points, with Portsmouth, Liverpool and Reading behind on goal difference. Aston Villa and Bolton are next with 24 points.
Arsenal, which had lost its previous two games to Bolton and Fulham, went ahead in the 20th minute.
Adebayor scored from a cross by Kolo Toure and celebrated by running to the touchline and embracing club captain Thierry Henry, who missed the game with a neck injury.
Silva made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute after defender Pascal Chimbonda had been penalised for a tackle on midfielder Tomas Rosicky.
He scored his second penalty 30 minutes later after substitute Jermaine Jenas brought down striker Robin van Persie.
”You can talk about the decisions and they probably did cost us goals, but I would be embarrassed to talk about them too much,” Tottenham manager Martin Jol said. ”We did not lose because of them.”
Spurs last beat Arsenal in November 1999, but that was at White Hart Lane home. It hasn’t won at Arsenal since 1993 and remains without an away win this season.
Henry denied newspaper reports he had fallen out with manager Arsenal Wenger, and was in the players’ tunnel before the game giving his teammates encouragement.
Henry said he had finally decided to rest after struggling with his fitness since the World Cup and may even miss the league match at champion Chelsea next Sunday.
”Going out there not 100% fit is not the way to help the team,” Henry told Sky Sports television. ”We all decided I was going to take a bit of a rest and come back when I am fully fit.”
Liverpool had drawn two and lost five of its league matches away from Anfield this season.
Four days after being cleared of assault charges that forced him to miss the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on Wednesday, Bellamy scored in the ninth and 26th minutes. He then set up Dirk Kuyt to add another goal in the 40th.
Wigan midfielder Lee McCulloch scored an own-goal in the 45th minute to make it 4-0.
Juan Pablo Angel scored an 82nd-minute equaliser for Aston Villa to draw 2-2 with Portsmouth. Villa took the lead when Gareth Barry converted a 37th-minute penalty. Matthew Taylor scored twice for Portsmouth — in the 52nd minute and from a 80th-minute penalty.
Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes was sent off in the 86th-minute after getting his second yellow card.
Reading striker Kevin Doyle scored his eighth goal of the season in the 33rd minute, heading the ball at the far post.
Blackburn scored through Shabani Nonda and Benni McCarthy for its first league win in six games.
Charlton is still without an away win after Sheffield United midfielder Keith Gillespie scored an 88th-minute winner. Andy Reid had put Charlton ahead before Sheffield defender Chris Morgan scored an equaliser from a corner.
Last-placed Charlton hasn’t won away from home in 22 attempts, dating back to October 2005.
On Sunday, Everton hosts West Ham, while Manchester City hosts Watford on Monday. – Sapa-AP