Premier League - Match #18

Arsenal 2 Adebayor, Bendtner
Tottenham 1 Berbatov

If being top at Christmas is a sure sign that a team would be crowned champions come May, then I would be a very happy man right now. But football is a funny old game. When you thought everything is set and sealed, there will always be a way to undo all the good things that have been done during the previous months.

However, we would be praying that Arsene Wenger will be able to bring the prized title of Premier League Champions home to the Emirates for the first time come May. Perhaps if we pray harder then it could be accompanied by the Champions' League trophy as well, right.

But watching the match against Sp*ds early on did not give you the indication that we would be getting the three points required to keep our place at the top. But Manu Adebayor certainly lifted my spirit with his sixth strike in six matches against our neighbour.

It was a wonderful move with the Togolese finishing a back-heel pass from Cesc Fabregas. Then the Sp*ds copied the move with Robbie Keane's back-heel being finished off by Dimitar Berbatov.

Then it was one of the moment when you felt like everything is conspiring against you when Kolo Toure fouled Berbatov inside the box. Then Manuel Almunia stepped up and be counted again in one of the big matches of the season. His safe from Keane's attempt certainly lifted my spirits and it certainly lifted the spirit of the players.

Then perhaps drawing inspirations from that Niclas Bendtner came on and with his first touch won the match for us, maintaining our lead at the top during yuletide and with it came the all important psychological motivation the leaders during Christmas will be the champions come May.

But of course, Arsene Wenger would not buy into that theory and would certainly ask his players to give their all again when they visit Fratton Park on Wednesday.

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