Adebayor double puts Arsenal top

LONDON – Arsenal continued their domination over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, winning 3-1 to move top of the Premier League.

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice for the slick Gunners either side of a stunning effort from Cesc Fabregas after a Gareth Bale strike had raised Tottenham hopes of a first victory over their arch-rivals since 1999. Liverpool slipped to second after drawing 0-0 at Portsmouth and Chelsea, who could have joined Arsenal on 13 points, were also frustrated in a goalless home draw with Blackburn Rovers.Manchester United moved into the top four for the first time this season with a scrappy 1-0 victory at Everton.West Ham United rose to fifth with a 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough, Sunderland ended a run of three league defeats with a 2-1 win over Reading and Bolton Wanderers lost for the fifth time in six league matches, 1-0 at Birmingham City.England striker Emile Heskey limped off with a suspected broken bone in his foot during Wigan Athletic’s 1-1 draw with visitors Fulham.Tottenham manager Martin Jol has been under scrutiny after a poor start to the season but things were looking better for the Dutchman when Bale’s free kick after 14 minutes beat Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia at the near post.Arsenal wasted several chances as did Dimitar Berbatov for Spurs before Adebayor made it 1-1, heading in a Cesc Fabregas free kick after 65 minutes.Fabregas later left Tottenham’s midfield trailing in his wake before smashing a shot past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson from 25 metres.Substitute Darren Bent made a hash of a chance to equalise for Spurs before Adebayor sealed the victory deep in stoppage time with a superb volley that Thierry Henry, now with Barcelona, would have been proud of.Nampa-ReutersLiverpool slipped to second after drawing 0-0 at Portsmouth and Chelsea, who could have joined Arsenal on 13 points, were also frustrated in a goalless home draw with Blackburn Rovers.Manchester United moved into the top four for the first time this season with a scrappy 1-0 victory at Everton.West Ham United rose to fifth with a 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough, Sunderland ended a run of three league defeats with a 2-1 win over Reading and Bolton Wanderers lost for the fifth time in six league matches, 1-0 at Birmingham City.England striker Emile Heskey limped off with a suspected broken bone in his foot during Wigan Athletic’s 1-1 draw with visitors Fulham.Tottenham manager Martin Jol has been under scrutiny after a poor start to the season but things were looking better for the Dutchman when Bale’s free kick after 14 minutes beat Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia at the near post.Arsenal wasted several chances as did Dimitar Berbatov for Spurs before Adebayor made it 1-1, heading in a Cesc Fabregas free kick after 65 minutes.Fabregas later left Tottenham’s midfield trailing in his wake before smashing a shot past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson from 25 metres.Substitute Darren Bent made a hash of a chance to equalise for Spurs before Adebayor sealed the victory deep in stoppage time with a superb volley that Thierry Henry, now with Barcelona, would have been proud of.Nampa-Reuters