Arsenal Enjoy Happy New Year to Keep Pace at the Top

Arsenal started 2008 in much the same fashion as they finished last year, with an impressive victory against West Ham at the Emirates.

Eduardo da Silva started the damage in the second minute, chesting down a Cesc Fábregas cross before firing home a left-footed volley. Emmanuel Adebayor doubled the lead soon afterwards as he squeezed the ball past Robert Green. Arsenal continued to dominate in the second half, but could not break down West Ham's resolute back four. For their part the Hammers were happy to sit back and wait for a chance to counter-attack. Unfortunately for Alan Curbishley, those chances were few and far between.

The result means Arsenal maintain their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League over Manchester United, who struggled past a stubborn Birmingham City side. Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game as he latched on to Cristiano Ronaldo's sublime backheel and slotted the ball past Maik Taylor. Birmingham felt hard done by though, as Rio Ferdinand started the move while Cameron Jerome lay injured.

Earlier, Chelsea had kept the top two in their sights as they came from behind to beat Fulham2-1 in Roy Hodgson's first game in charge at Craven Cottage.

Portsmouth's impressive away form continued as they strolled past 10-man Reading 2-0. The Royals got off to a terrible start as defender Ibrahima Sonko was sent off after he brought down Benjani Mwaruwari in the area. Niko Kranjcar missed the following penalty, but goals from Sol Campbell and John Utaka sealed victory. The result means Harry Redknapp's side are equal on points with fourth-placed Liverpool, who have a superior goal difference with three games in hand.

Elsewhere, Everton played out an awful, goalless first-half with Middlesbrough, before kicking on in the last 30 minutes to win 2-0 with goals from James McFadden and Andrew Johnson.