Arsenal's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (L) saves a penalty kick by Tottenham Hotspur's Robbie Keane during their English Premier League soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London December 22, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 26 -- Arsenal has enjoyed Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League standings - and is hoping that history repeats itself and keeps it top at the end of the season.

    The club that's been top at Christmas has won the league for the past three years - Manchester United last season and Chelsea in 2005 and '06. The last club to buck that trend was United, which led at Christmas 2003, but finished third behind champion Arsenal in 2004.

    "If those statistics are right, let's just go to the end of the season now and give us the title," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said with a smile.

    While the rest of the European soccer leagues take a break, the Premier League has three games within seven days. Arsenal travels to Portsmouth on today, Everton on December 29 and is home to West Ham on New Year's Day.

    Arsenal leads the league with 43 points, one ahead of Manchester United. Chelsea is third with 37, followed by Manchester City with 34, Liverpool with 33 and Everton and Portsmouth with 30.

    Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson refused to rule out Chelsea and Liverpool from the title race.

    "You can't say it is a two-horse race," Ferguson said. "December is a very important month. But we are still with Arsenal and we have a good chance."

    Arsenal defeated north London rival Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday, and United kept pace by winning with the same score against Everton on Sunday.

    United put aside the off-field fallout from the players' Christmas party last Monday, where fringe player Jonny Evans was arrested and accused of rape, to win with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Evans, who denies the rape claim and is on bail, watched the match from the stands alongside Rio Ferdinand, who reportedly organized the party.

    The club said Ferdinand was out with a gashed knee, but he will be back for today's game at Sunderland.

    United then faces West Ham United away and Birmingham City at home.     

    Sunderland is managed by former United midfielder Roy Keane.

    United won 1-0 against Sunderland at Old Trafford in September.

    "We always have hard games at Sunderland," United striker Wayne Rooney said. "They are at the wrong end of the table, so they will be fighting hard to get some points."

    United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is out with a groin problem, while midfielder Owen Hargreaves returns from a back complaint.

    In other matches today, which is known as Boxing Day in Britain, it is: Chelsea vs Aston Villa; Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham; West Ham United vs Reading; Everton vs Bolton Wanderers; Derby County vs Liverpool; Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough; and Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United.

    Liverpool beat Portsmouth 4-1 on Saturday - ending a two-match losing streak where it lost to United in the league and Chelsea in the League Cup - and defender Jamie Carragher wants wins against Derby, Manchester City and Wigan to start 2008 on a high.

    "Christmas is always a crucial time of the season," Carragher said. "You can look at this period almost as a separate group of games in that sense.

    "From these three games we would always say that seven points would be fine, but nine would be excellent. That would make a massive difference heading into the new year, hopefully we can be a lot closer to Arsenal by then."

    In the League Championship, leader Watford hosts Cardiff today and West Bromwich Albion is at Bristol City.

    Watford has 43 points and West Brom and Bristol are on 41 points each.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)

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