Arsenal and Chelsea win battles of 'Grudge Sunday'

From out of Africa came the goals that earned a London double over the great cities of Lancashire on Grudge Sunday, and left Portsmouth sitting atop the nascent Premiership.

Didier Drogba, of the Ivory Coast, and Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor, were the men who respectively bolstered Chelsea's defence of the title and revived Arsenal's challenge, and together wounded the chances of Manchester United and Liverpool.

At Stamford Bridge, Drogba scored a stunning goal to secure Chelsea's 10th successive home win and Jose Mourinho's fifth in five League matches over his supposed bogey side, Liverpool. Watched by Tiger Woods, Chelsea even survived the dismissal of Michael Ballack early in the second period for stamping on Momo Sissoko. Oh, and Mourinho and Rafael Benitez shook hands. Twice.

Just under four hours later Adebayor struck to earn Arsenal - without their injured striker Thierry Henry - a deserved victory at Old Trafford.

The results left United and Chelsea together on 12 points, one behind Portsmouth who were propelled to top spot on Saturday by a goal from another African striker, Lomana LuaLua of the DR Congo. Arsenal are 10th and Liverpool 15th.