Premier League round-up:Arsenal strode into the New Year with their lead at the top of the Premier League intact after a comfortable 2-0 victory over London rivals West Ham United on Tuesday.
Manchester United, who lost top spot after a surprise 2-1 loss at West Ham on Saturday, kept close on the tail of the Gunners thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal in a nervy 1-0 defeat of Birmingham City at Old Trafford.
Arsenal, whose goals came from Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor early in the first half, have 50 points from 21 games, two more points than champions United, while Chelsea have 44 after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 in a lunchtime kickoff.
Everton moved up to fifth after a 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough while Portsmouth are sixth following a 2-0 win at Reading who played virtually the entire match with 10 men after Ibrahima Sonko was sent off in the fourth minute.
Aston Villa were at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the late game and Martin O'Neill's team secured the points with a 2-1 victory thanks to two set pieces. Olaf Mellberg put Villa ahead late in the first half only for Jermaine Defoe to equalise eleven minutes from the end of normal. However, Martin Laursen lost his marker six minute later to head home the winner.
Fourth-placed Liverpool are not in action until Wednesday when they host struggling Wigan Athletic.
