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Arsenal survive scare to down Tottenham

Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner, top, jumps to score against Tottenham during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Arsenal survived a scare against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who missed a penalty at 1-1, before emerging 2-1 winners in the north London derby yesterday.

Arsenal will spend Christmas at the top of the English Premier League after their victory at the Emirates Stadium as the win lifted Arsene Wenger's men four points clear of second-placed Manchester United ahead of the champions' meeting with Everton at Old Trafford today.

Arsenal were below their best for much of the game but took the points with two pieces of clinical finishing. For Tottenham, who have not beaten their neighbors since November 1999, it was another deeply frustrating derby experience.

Robbie Keane had the chance to put the visitors in front with a 73rd-minute penalty after Dimitar Berbatov had cancelled out Emanuel Adebayor's well-taken opener for Arsenal.

But the Spurs captain's spot-kick was superbly saved by Manuel Almunia and Arsenal extracted maximum advantage from that reprieve when, three minutes later, substitute Nicklas Bendtner was allowed to rise unchallenged to head in the winner from a Cesc Fabregas corner.

It was the Danish youngster's first goal in the Premier League although he had previously opened his Gunners account in both the League Cup and Champions League.
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