LONDON, Dec 18: Goals from wingers Arjen Robben and Joe Cole earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, restoring their nine point-lead at the top of the Premier League. It was Chelsea’s first league win at Highbury since 1990 and put the champions 20 points clear of Arsenal, who suffered their third successive league defeat without scoring.

Dutchman Robben broke a bad-tempered deadlock in the 39th minute when striker Didier Drogba put him through just over the halfway line.

The speedy winger kept his head to angle a left-footed shot past Jens Lehmann from 10 metres, the ball hitting the far post before bouncing in.

Cole made it two in the 73rd minute with another fine individual effort to win the ball from Lauren on the right, cut inside and outflank England team mate Sol Campbell before poking the ball home.

Arsenal had their chances in an intense but scrappy game. Thierry Henry hit the post in the 20th minute and Dutch striker Robin van Persie had a first-half goal controversially ruled offside.Lauren, substitute Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires forced goalkeeper Petr Cech into second-half saves.

In the day’s other fixture, Tottenham Hotspur earned a point in a lively, see-saw 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough to stay in touch with the title chasers.

Tottenham went ahead in the 25th minute, Robbie Keane’s shot bobbling into the net after Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwartzer had failed to clear a high ball under challenge from Mido.

The home side’s reaction was to attack and they were rewarded five minutes later when Aiyegbeni Yakubu drifted clear of the Spurs defence, latched on to a Gareth Southgate header and volleyed home from six metres.

Yakubu was on hand in the 43rd too when midfielder James Morrison drilled a left-footed shot from 18 metres towards the goal and it deflected into the net off the Nigerian’s chest.

Spurs pulled it back to 2-2 18 minutes into the second half when Jermaine Jenas struck an exquisite free kick from 25 metres that curled over the end of the Middlesbrough wall and past the diving Schwartzer.

But their elation was short-lived. Middlesbrough earned a corner five minutes later and Franck Queudrue headed the ball on to the underside of the crossbar from a corner.

It bounced down just over the line and the assistant referee immediately signalled a goal to the consternation of Spurs defenders, including England goalkeeper Paul Robinson who was booked for dissent.

Tottenham replied in kind, however, seven minutes from the end when Mido jumped high above the home defence to head home a Michael Carrick corner.

The 19-year-old Morrison was carried off in a neck brace shortly before the whistle after being knocked out when he clattered into a challenge.

He regained consciousness in the dressing room.

Elsewhere on Saturday fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers crushed Everton 4-0.

Senegalese forward Henri Camara hit a hat trick to give Wigan Athletic a 3-0 home win over Charlton Athletic and England striker Michael Owen also scored three in Newcastle United’s 4-2 win at West Ham United.

Manchester City thrashed Birmingham City 4-1 in a late game in the northwest.

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