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Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Arsenal fended off the challenge of City in the early game.

 United will be grateful for a point after Carlos Tevez's shot cannoned off Michael Dawson to give them the equalizer in the fourth minute of injury time, having trailed for more than 70 minutes at White Hart Lane after Dimitar Berbatov's goal.

 Chelsea are still four points behind United after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, for whom Jermain Defoe scored on his debut.

 At the City of Manchester Stadium, Adebayor finished off a slick Arsenal move as the Gunners took the lead on nine minutes and Eduardo volleyed in the second on 26 minutes.

 Gelson Fernandes pulled one back for City just two minutes later but Arsenal dominated the second half and Adebayor made sure of the points with the third two minutes from time.

 Adebayor has now scored 18 league goals this season - one behind United's Cristiano Ronaldo - and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger again praised the way the Togo striker has filled the void since the departure of Thierry Henry to Barcelona in the summer.

 "Thierry is a world-class player and we do not forget him," Wenger said. "To fill that void the way Emmanuel has is fantastic. He has made a big improvement this year and been remarkably consistent.

 "I feel his movement off the ball has improved as has his finishing. He was not calm in front of goal when he first arrived but now he is composed.

 "Not only does he score goals he plays for the team. He had a big impact on the centre-backs today and good centre-backs."

   United had won every game they had played in 2008 but looked set for defeat after Berbatov side-footed home when Edwin van der Sar could only palm Aaron Lennon's cross into his path.

 The visitors poured forward in search of an equalizer but looked out of luck until Tevez's deflected volley from close range four minutes into injury time.

 United had seven players booked - which will prompt a fine by the Football Association - and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was critical of referee Mark Clattenburg.

 "For Manchester United it's not right," Ferguson said. "The referee settled down in the second half but nonetheless, for us to get seven bookings something is wrong."

   Nevertheless, Ferguson was thankful for his side's late late equalizer.

 "It could be massive," he said.

 "We don't stop trying and in the last 25 minutes we absolutely battered them. I think we deserved a point."

   Chelsea took the lead at Fratton Park when Nicolas Anelka scored 10 minutes into the second half, but Defoe, signed from Tottenham on transfer deadline day, equalized nine minutes later when he broke the offside trap and finished coolly.

 Everton remain fourth despite being held to a goalless draw at Blackburn, though Andy Johnson had a goal ruled out for offside.

 Liverpool moved up to fifth after they beat Sunderland 3-0 for their first win in six games.

 After an awful first half, Peter Crouch headed them in front, Fernando Torres doubled their lead and Steven Gerrard completed the win with the third from the penalty spot after a foul on Jermaine Pennant.

 Wigan Athletic moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win over West Ham United, Kevin Kilbane scoring the vital goal.

 Birmingham slipped into the relegation zone after they were held 1-1 by bottom side Derby County.

 Reading are just one point better off after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Bolton Wanderers.

DPA