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Bendtner helps Arsenal keep pace with Chelsea
A second-half brace from Didier Drogba helped earn Chelsea a 4-1 home victory against West Ham United to move the Blues back to the top of the Premier League.
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A stunning volley from Hammers midfielder Scott Parker cancelled out Alex's opener at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea turned on the style after the break to take all three points and move one point clear of Manchester United.
Drogba rose unmarked to restore Chelsea's lead in the 55th minute and Florent Malouda added a third 14 minutes from time before the Ivory Coast striker added his second in the final minute of the match.
However, Arsenal are joint top of the table, having played a game more, following a dramatic 2-1 win at Hull City.
The Gunners took the lead when Andrei Arshavin escaped two markers and produced a lovely finish, but Hull responded when Jimmy Bullard scored a penalty. Sol Campbell was only shown a yellow card when fouling Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who appeared offside in the build-up.
The Tigers lost George Boateng to a red card before half-time when the midfielder was shown a second yellow for a high challenge on Bacary Sagna. Hull battled strongly with ten men but Nicklas Bendtner struck three minutes into injury time when Boaz Myhill failed to grasp a shot from Denilson.
Two-goal hero Roman Pavlyuchenko's gave Tottenham Hotspur a 3-1 home win against Blackburn Rovers to maintain the London club's hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The Russian striker, who has now scored eight goals in six games since being recalled to the Spurs line up, added to Jermain Defoe's 45th minute opener before Chris Samba pulled one back for Rovers. Pavlyuchenko made sure all three points went to Tottenham with an 85th minute a tap-in.
Aston Villa missed the chance to reduce their deficit in the race for the final Champions League place after being held to a goalless draw at Stoke City.
The closest the visitors came to making a breakthrough at the Britannia Stadium was three minutes after half-time when Stewart Downing's shot inadvertently deflected off team-mate John Carew but hit the side-netting with Thomas Sorensen wrong-footed.
Craig Gardner scored his first Birmingham City goal as Alex McLeish's side recovered to earn a point with a 2-2 draw against Everton and preserve their six month unbeaten home record.
Everton, knocked out of the FA Cup by Blues at Goodison Park this season, had taken control with two goals in three minutes midway through the first half from Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu.
But Cameron Jerome's third goal in the last two games gave City a lifeline before Gardner's moment of glory following his £3 million January move from local rivals Aston Villa.
Wolverhampton Wanderers took the spoils in their relegation six-pointer against Burnley, hanging on for a 2-1 win at Turf Moor.
Matt Jarvis took advantage of a short Tyrone Mears back pass to put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute and a Clarke Carlisle own goal almost saw them home. But a 73rd-minute header from substitute Steven Thompson gave the home side hope with Wolves forced into desperate defending to preserve their points.
Owen Coyle saw his Bolton Wanderers side gain their third win in four league games and edge closer to safety with a morale-boosting 4-0 win over relegation rivals Wigan Athletic.
Johan Elmander made the breakthrough at the Reebok Stadium in the 10th minute but it was only in the second half they took full control. Kevin Davies extended their lead from the penalty spot before Fabrice Muamba scored his first goal for the club with substitute Matt Taylor also on target.
