Soccer: Chelsea outwit Arsenal

LONDON - Goals from wingers Arjen Robben and Joe Cole earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over London soccer rivals Arsenal today, restoring their nine point-lead at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea's first league win at Highbury since 1990 put the champions 20 points clear of Arsenal, all but snuffing out the title hopes of Arsene Wenger's side 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 10m, the ball hitting the far post before bouncing in.

It was only the second goal of the campaign for Robben who took the Premier League by storm last season but has lacked confidence recently after hamstring injury problems.

He might have scored again but hesitated at the last moment, choosing to pass instead of shoot and failing to find a team mate.

"I should have scored one or two more but today at least I felt really good fitness wise," Robben told Sky television.

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.

"It's all good at the moment," Cole said. "We are really flying."

Arsenal also had 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 Petr Cech into second-half saves.

It was the Czech Rebublic goalkeeper's 50th Premier League game and his 33rd clean sheet behind a defence that has conceded only seven goals so far this season.

Seven players were booked and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard played much of the second half with his head swathed in bandages after a clash.

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

Tottenham went ahead in the 25th minute, Robbie Keane's shot bobbling into the net after Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer 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 18m 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 Middlesbrough wall and past the diving Schwarzer.

Their elation was short-lived, however. 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.

Tottenham remain fourth in the table, level on 30 points with Liverpool who have two games in hand after playing the club World Championship in Japan.

Middlesbrough stay 13th on 20 points.

- REUTERS