ARSENAL kicked off 2008 in style with a comfortable win at the Emirates. Eduardo and Manu Adebayor both netted inside the opening 18 minutes to kill off West Ham's hopes of following up their impressive victory over Manchester United with another three points.
The Hammers were never at the races and Arsene Wenger's remain on course to claim the Premier League title from fierce rivals United.
Arsene Wenger has decided that his Premier League big guns will launch Arsenal's bid for the FA Cup this weekend because he wants to ensure that his youngsters are rested and fully prepared to face Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final next week.
Having regained top spot from Manchester United with an unbeaten fivematch run over the Christmas holiday period, the Gunners will now focus on the twin challenges presented by the domestic cups. They meet Burnley at Turf Moor in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and three days later bid for a place in the Carling Cup Final when they face their north London rivals in the first leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
Top finishing: Eduardo gives Arsenal the lead in the second minute, his fifth goal
in his last three games
Normally Wenger would be tempted to play some of his younger players in an FA Cup tie against Championship opponents but he wants to be sure they are all fit to continue their remarkable progress in the Carling Cup. The average age of the team that has knocked out Newcastle, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers is 21 and the Arsenal manager wants to retain faith with the same players for the two-legged semi-final against Tottenham.
"I've decided that it will be the first team that plays at Burnley on Sunday," he said.
Wenger's ability to exchange one complete 11-man line-up for another of almost equal quality underlines just how successful he's been in scouring the globe for players. There was little doubt that Arsenal would retain their two-point lead over Manchester United from the moment that Croatian striker Eduardo scored the first goal after just 70 seconds of yesterday's comfortable 2-0 win over West Ham at the Emirates.
Thumbs up: Arsene Wenger
was full of praise for Eduardo
It was a victory that completed a profitable Christmas programme and sent Arsenal into the New Year in good spirits. "2008 must be great!" said Wenger when he wished the media a happy New Year after the match. Faced with crisis headlines just a couple of weeks ago, Arsenal got back on track with 13 points from the five matches - three London derbies and two tough away games - that followed the early-December blips at Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
The season of goodwill has also revealed Arsenal's tough underbelly and their willingness to adopt route one football when required. This direct style of play was successful in the 4-1 defeat of Everton and again yesterday when West Ham's central defenders Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson were exposed by Arsenal's switch of emphasis. "When they meet us some teams now play 4-5-1, mark tight and push high up the field," said Wenger. "With the pace and power of the players we have this allows us to get into the space behind their central defenders. It gives us an option."
West Ham, buoyed by the win over Manchester United that helped Arsenal regain leadership in the title race, competed for every ball in the first half but still conceded two goals.
Top finish: Adebayor scoring Arsenal's second
"I think it was just one game too many for us over the holiday period," said West Ham manager Alan Curbishley. "From the moment Eduardo scored it was an uphill task for us. I think both sides ran out of legs in the second half. It was a very tired effort - especially from us. I think the Manchester United game took a lot out of us."
With an unprecedented 13 players injured - former Arsenal hero Freddie Ljungberg became the 14th in the 37th minute - West Ham simply didn't have the quality to respond when Arsenal took a grip on the game. Eduardo's classy finish exposed the hesitancy in the heart of West Ham's defence. He took a cross from Cesc Fabregas on his chest and was given the time to turn and drive the ball past Robert Green for his fifth goal in his last three appearances. "It was a great goal from a clinical finisher," said Wenger.
West Ham had chances of their own in an enthralling first half with Mark Noble, Carlton Cole, John Pantsil, Ljungberg and Ferdinand all testing Manuel Almunia. But the game was over as a true contest when a long pass from the impressive Gael Clichy caught Ferdinand and Upson out of position, allowing Emmanuel Adebayor to nudge the ball beyond the advancing Green and score from an almost impossible angle.
"We started well and after that we controlled-Ramos, Martin O'Neill's side have added two more to the collection. Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen both lost their markers with ease and had free headers that flew past keeper Paul Robinson.
The England international did the professional thing by admitting the team's mistakes after the match and insisting they will work hard on the training ground to correct them, but it might be small comfort to Berbatov.
Robinson said: "To concede goals in that manner again is something we have to keep looking at. We knew that the game," said Wenger. "West Ham were dangerous from set-pieces in the first half but I thought we were quite comfortable after the interval. "Overall this holiday period has been absolutely great for us. It's been fantastic. We have belief and we have talent and we are ready to fight.
"Manchester United will be a tough opponent in the title race, but I don't count only them. I still feel Chelsea and Liverpool are there too. "But we are top at the moment and I prefer to lead from the front. Then you just rely on your results. If you are not at the front you have to hope the others don't perform.
"My New Year resolution is to give absolutely everything I have, every bit of energy, to make this club successful. It's a pleasure to work with the team, they give absolutely everything so I want to give everything to make them successful."
Villa were dangerous from setpieces and I came out for crosses to help my defenders. But the goals came from two free headers and there is not much I can do to stop them. "We have to work on it because it is happening too often. We have struggled with marking players in the box all season, but other than that we did play well in the game.
"We are making progress but it is slow progress. When the new manager took over we were in a position that disappointed everybody but we are moving in the right direction." Laursen's late winner was all the more devastating after Jermain Defoe's superb scissor kick after 79 minutes seemed to have rewarded Tottenham for their much-improved second-half performance.
Ramos is renowned for his tough streak and, while Berbatov may be annoyed at the club's lack of progress, it is nothing compared to the Spaniard's frustration.
He said: "I am not happy because we have come back from a goal down, created chances, and still lost. "We are lacking in some defensive departments and we are paying for our lapses. If we can't sort the problems out with the players we have, we will look outside for players."
[Sir Alex Ferguson was caught in a row with Manchester United's own fans last night as they hit back at his criticism of the downbeat atmosphere at Old Trafford.
The United manager described the mood during the 1-0 win over Birmingham on New Year's Day as like a funeral' and has also irritated hard-line fans by offering further support for the club's owners, the Glazer family.
Lone voice: A quiet Old Trafford
Ferguson suggested that initial protests against the Glazers were unfair' and that will do him no favours among those supporters who still resent the manner in which the Americans took the club into debt.
But it is his comments about the atmosphere at Old Trafford that have really angered supporters.
Last night Colin Hendrie, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association, said: "A lot of people are pretty upset because it shows a lack of understanding about what it's like to be a football fan in 2008.
"Fergie's going back to the days 10 years ago when it was absolutely fantastic, you could stand. But you can't do that now and the football authorities need to make up their minds whether they want to have fans sitting neatly in a row not being able to do anything, or if they want an atmosphere in the football grounds again.
"I think Fergie could benefit from sitting in the ground. You can't stand up to make a noise. If you try to stand up, you've got stewards who are ejecting you and then taking your season ticket away from you.
"It's almost like a police state in a football ground now and if you do stand up, people will take your arm, put it behind the back of your neck and throw you out of the ground. Under those circumstances, what atmosphere does he want?
Under fire: Sir Alex's rant has upset fans, who do not share his enthusiasm for the Glazers
"The only atmosphere we have is one where we're a bit frightened of losing £1,000 we've paid for the season ticket.
"It's not against the law to stand up. It's to do with the terms and conditions on the ticket. The interpretation of that rule varies at different grounds."
Though United's ticket prices still compare favourably to other big clubs, they have risen since the Glazers took over in 2004 and resentment has also grown among fans after the owners insisted that all season card holders be forced to buy cup tickets whether or not they want to attend the match.
All of which makes Ferguson's latest comments about the Americans rather untimely. The United manager said: "At a number of clubs there have been problems with friction between managers and owners, but you can see how smoothly the United ship is running as far as that is concerned, despite early hostility over the Glazer family.
"Those protests were unfair because they weren't given a chance but the Glazers kept their cool and our owners have been nothing but supportive.
"Good teamwork starts at the top and I'm happy to say, that's what we have at Old Trafford."
Chelsea were the afternoon's other big winners as they beat Tottenham, while Liverpool had to settle for a draw.
Avram Grant's side were too strong for Spurs in the capital derby as they were comfortable in claiming a 2-0 success at Stamford Bridge.
The rest of the title contenders were less convincing as Liverpool toiled to a 1-1 draw on their travels to Middlesbrough, while Arsenal were held by the same scoreline at Emirates Stadium by a defiant Birmingham.
Antoine Sibierski was Wigan's saviour as Steve Bruce's side beat ten-man Derby at Pride Park, while east triumphed over west in the capital as West Ham had just about enough to beat Fulham.
The majority inside Goodison Park were left delighted by Everton's deserved 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Aston Villa cruised a 3-1 victory over Reading at Villa Park as two John Carew goals helped Martin O'Neill's side to the spoils.
Newcastle started life without Sam Allardyce in disastrous fashion, although there was no hint of what was to come as they reached half-time at Old Trafford with the score still goalless.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock for Manchester United with a free-kick sent underneath the Newcastle wall, before Carlos Tevez made it 2-0 with a straightforward finish. Ronaldo showed all his class to add a third and Rio Ferdinand then got in on the act with a well-taken strike from Wayne Rooney's clever pass. A deflection helped Ronaldo to his hat-trick with just two minutes remaining but there was still time for Carlos Tevez to slam home a sixth off the crossbar.
Newcastle's capitulation was complete in stoppage time when former Manchester United player Alan Smith was sent off for dissent. On a day when Nicolas Anelka started the game on Chelsea's bench a full-back showed his strikers just how to it, as Juliano Belletti drew first blood against Spurs. Perhaps only a Brazilian would have thoughts of a shot on goal when receiving possession midway in an opponent's half but as Tottenham backed off Belletti advanced, before unleashing a stunning strike that gave Radek Cerny not a prayer as it passed him into the top corner.
Anelka was given a debut in the second half and with his first touch so nearly grabbed a goal, only for Cerny to brilliantly parry his snapshot on the turn. Shaun Wright-Phillips made sure of the points when his crisp finish from the edge of the box ended Spurs' resolve. Rafa Benitez's troubles continued at The Riverside as Liverpool could only manage a 1-1 draw at struggling Middlesbrough. Liverpool have spent more than ever before on a defender this week and judging by the manner in which they conceded at Middlesbrough, Martin Skrtel is certainly needed.
Stewart Downing's looped cross to the far post was kept alive by Gary O'Neil and after he headed the ball from back to where it came, Jeremie Aliadiere nodded it into the centre of the six-yard box, leaving a recalled George Boateng to surge in front of his marker to stab in from close range. Liverpool toiled to little avail in the second period but in Fernando Torres they have a class act and predictably it was the Spaniard that drew them level, as he rifled in from a full 25-yards to register his 17th goal of the season in some style.
Arsenal dictated play for long spells at Emirates Stadium but ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 against a spirited Birmingham. The home side made a dominance of possession pay in the 20th minute but it was in controversial circumstances, as Stephen Kelly was adjudged to have brought down Eduardo da Silva in the box. His strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor cared not a jot as his penalty just about evaded Maik Taylor to give him his 13th league goal of the season.
Whatever Alex McLeish said at the break had the desired effect as Birmingham found themselves level within three minutes as Sebastian Larsson's corner was converted past Manuel Almunia off Garry O'Connor. Fulham were given a dream start when a Simon Davies' free-kick in the eighth minute had zip and verve as it evaded everyone in West Ham's box to beat an unsighted Robert Green.
The home side responded positively and drew level just before the half hour mark as Dean Ashton got across his marker to gloriously convert Freddie Ljungberg's pinpoint right-wing delivery with a clever header. Fulham had Niemi to thank for parity at the break as his fantastic saves denied both Ashton and Carlton Cole.
There was, though, nothing the flying Finn could do to prevent Anton Ferdinand from firing in a well-taken winner, when from Mark Noble's stretched cross he found a finish worthy of any striker. Top clubs in fine form met at Goodison Park and it was Everton that made home advantage count as Joleon Lescott exposed miserable defending from Manchester City to give his side the lead on the half hour mark.
After City failed to clear a corner the ball was worked back to Mikel Arteta and from the Spaniard's right wing low cross, Lescott was left free at the near post to stab home. Aston Villa remain the masters of the set-piece and it was from another dead ball that they took the lead against Reading. Ashley Young's ball in was typically devilish in its delivery, leaving Carew to need just the faintest of touches to beat Marcus Hahnemann.
Martin Laursen's remarkable season of goalscoring continued ten minutes into the second half as his header from Young's corner ended any hope of a Reading fight-back. In the dying stages Carew grabbed his second after Gabriel Agbonlahor combined with Young to set up the big Norwegian, rendering James Harper's last minute effort the scantest of consolations.
Sibierski stepped off the bench in the 82nd minute to give Wigan a crucial three-point haul against a Derby side that handed out five debuts. Derby's challenge was made all that bit harder in the 55th minute when central defender Claude Davis was sent off, after his clumsy challenge on Marcus Bent earned him a second booking. Substitute Sibierski's impact was immediate as his crisp drive from the edge of the box gave Wigan the spoils.
19 minute GOAL! 1-0 Arsenal! Clichy crosses from the left and Adebayor climbs above the Fulham defence to plant a header past Antti Niemi from six yards!
37'53'' GOAL! 2-0 Arsenal! It's Adebayor again! Flamini finds Hleb on the right, and his cross is headed firmly past a statuesque Niemi! Arsenal are in complete command of this game.
ARSENAL kept the pressure on Man Utd thanks to Emmanuel Adebayor's double. The Togo hitman struck twice before Tomas Rosicky's goal as the Gunners eased past struggling Fulham. The victory kept Arsene Wenger's side joint top but the Cottagers are in deep trouble in the dropzone after this latest setback.
WAYNE ROONEY left it late to keep Manchester United top of the table. The England star netted on 77 minutes to finally kill off Reading, who will feel gutted they did not take a point. Cristiano Ronaldo made sure of the win a minute from time.
CHELSEA'S title dreams were kept alive by Claudio Pizarro's late winner. Avram Grant's side struggled to break down resilient Birmingham at St Andrews. But Peru striker Pizarro grabbed a priceless goal with just 10 minutes to go to save the West Londoners.
MATHIEU FLAMINI'S wonder goal piled more misery on Newcastle. Arsenal dumped Kevin Keegan's men out of the FA Cup at the weekend and it was a case of deja vu as they stuck three goals past Shay Given once again. Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring with a thumping header five minutes before the break. And Flamini left Keegan in no doubt of the massive job he has on his hands with a stunning strike after 72 minutes.
Cesc Fabregas added an extra touch of gloss 10 minutes from time as the Gunners marched back to the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal Mwaka huu wanatisha! Mwendo mdundo!