Arsenal regained first place in the Premier League yesterday thanks to a Cesc Fabregas equaliser in an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
The Gunners trailed to Steven Gerrard's seventh-minute free-kick but the inspirational Fabregas stole in with 10 minutes remaining to give the visitors a deserved share of the points.
Arsenal have 26 points from 10 matches while champions Manchester United, 4-1 winners at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, also have 26 from 11 but have scored fewer goals. Liverpool are sixth with 20 points from 10.
Liverpool and Arsenal, both undefeated in the league, served up a treat in the weekend's outstanding fixture which was seen as a major test of Arsenal's credentials.
The home side, looking to hit back from a damaging 2-1 Champions League defeat by Besiktas on Wednesday, made a strong start with Gerrard forcing a fine early save from keeper Manuel Almunia.
A minute later they went ahead when Gerrard's fierce free-kick from the edge of the area flew through a hole in the Arsenal wall into the bottom left corner.
Arsenal, seeking a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, hogged possession for the rest of the half with their fluent passing game forcing Liverpool back.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez sent on Peter Crouch after the break and the giant striker forced a great save from Almunia and then missed narrowly with another chance.
Fabregas wasted a glorious chance to equalise after 53 minutes when Emmanuel Eboue's low shot hit the base of the post and rebounded to him but he fired wide with the goal gaping.
He made amends with 10 minutes remaining, however, running on to Alexandr Hleb's astute pass before toe-poking a shot past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.
Fabregas then hit the post with a curling effort as Arsenal went for the victory in a breathless finish.
"They proved they are ready for the challenge today and they never give up," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports.
"It was a big test today but we showed tremendous quality."
Samba sinks Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur lost for the third time in a week yesterday when Christopher Samba's stoppage time strike clinched a 2-1 victory for Blackburn Rovers.
Watched from the White Hart Lane stands by new manager Juande Ramos, Tottenham led through Robbie Keane's 49th-minute penalty but Rovers equalised with a Benni McCarthy strike.
A point would have taken Tottenham out of the Premier League's bottom three but Samba pounced on a loose ball to smash Rovers' winner past Tottenham keeper Radek Cerny and move the visitors into the top five.
Earlier, Bolton Wanderers moved off the foot of the table with a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa in Gary Megson's first match in charge.
Nicolas Anelka's pinpoint free-kick gave Bolton a first-half lead but Villa hit back seven minutes after the break when Luke Moore chested in Gabriel Agbonlahor's driven cross.
The point was enough to lift Bolton, who appointed Megson on Wednesday to replace Sammy Lee, above Derby County who suffered a 2-0 home defeat by Everton.
Mikel Arteta and Yakubu Aiyegbeni were the Everton scorers as they moved up to ninth in the table with 16 points.
Bolton are on six points from 11 matches, the same as Derby, but have a superior goal difference. Tottenham are third from bottom with seven points.
Upcoming fixtures
Tomorrow: League Cup fourth round 8.45 p.m. Coventry vs West Ham.
Wednesday: League Cup fourth round 8.45 p.m. Chelsea vs Leicester; Luton vs Everton; Portsmouth vs Blackburn; Sheffield United vs Arsenal. 9 p.m. Bolton vs Manchester City; Liverpool vs Cardiff; Tottenham vs Blackpool.
Saturday: Premier League 1.45 p.m. Arsenal vs Man. Utd. 4 p.m. Aston Villa vs Derby; Everton vs Birmingham; Fulham vs Reading; M'boro vs Tottenham; Newcastle vs Portsmouth; Wigan vs Chelsea. 6.15 p.m. Blackburn vs Liverpool.
Sunday: Premier League 5 p.m. West Ham vs Bolton.
Monday, Nov. 5: Premier League 9 p.m. Man. City vs Sunderland.