Arsenal hold Reds after Adebayor dismissal

(CNN) -- Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off and skipper Cesc Fabregas suffered a worrying knee problem as Arsenal battled to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas appeared to be hurt in a tackle with Spanish compatriot Xabi Alonso at the end of the first half and was unable to continue, with Abou Diaby coming on.

Worse was to follow when Arsenal were forced to play the final 28 minutes with only 10 men after referee Howard Webb showed Adebayor his second yellow card for a challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

Man of the match Robin van Persie earlier broke the deadlock with a superb 24th minute strike before Robbie Keane levelled.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger berated Webb after the game and said Keane should have also been dismissed for an early tackle on Gael Clichy.

"I think it was the wrong decision. I would love to have sendings off like that at home when we get kicked off the park," said Wenger. "If Adebayor has to go off for that then Keane should have gone off for his tackle on Clichy."

Wenger saluted his team's strength and was convinced they would have taken all three points had they not been reduced to 10 men.

"I'm proud of the spirit we showed and the strength with which we finished the game," he said.

"In the first half we played too deep and didn't have good enough control of the game, but as soon as we came out in the second half we were in better control and I was sure that we would have won in the last 30 minutes."

Van Persie said it was the character of the team that got them through the game.

"We said to ourselves we have to keep in the game and we had to fight until the end," Van Persie told Sky Sports 1. "If you look at Alex (Song) and Denilson and how many meters they have covered today in the middle it was a big compliment.

"We all wanted to win the game but we are not that unhappy. It's not what we wanted but it's not really that bad after all that has happened."

Liverpool were without manager Rafael Benitez, who was back on Merseyside recovering from an operation on his troublesome kidney stones.

His side could yet be knocked off top spot before Christmas by Chelsea, who play Everton on Monday night.

Damien Duff came off the bench to fire Newcastle to a dramatic 2-1 home win over Tottenham at St James' Park.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder snatched victory in the 90th minute after combining brilliantly with fellow substitute Mark Viduka just as it looked as if his side would have to settle for a third successive home draw.

It was hard luck on Spurs, who had played their part in a tight contest and had looked the more likely winners until Duff's late intervention.

The win came as a huge relief to Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear, who had seen his side concede late goals to draw with both Wigan and Stoke in the previous two home games.

Luka Modric, a Newcastle target before he opted to move to White Hart Lane, looked to have denied the Magpies with a 28th-minute equaliser with the home side appealing in vain for an offside flag.

That cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's 11th-minute opener after he had run on to Shay Given's towering clearance and got the better of covering defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto to score.

Manchester City find themselves in the bottom three going into Christmas after a last-minute goal from Roman Bednar doomed them to a 2-1 reversal at fellow strugglers West Bromwich.

Manager Mark Hughes' side have now collected just five points from the last nine league games and have failed to win in six matches in all competitions.

But Hughes said: "There has been speculation about my future since the new owners came in, so it is not something that is new to me. Am I confident I will be given the money myself to spend? That is the intention. That is my view and I've had assurances from (owner) Sheikh Mansour and the chairman (Khaldoon Al Mubarak).

"They have been very positive. They understand where we are in our development. They are pragmatic people. They understand things will not happen overnight. Some people expect it to but they understand that won't happen.

"Time is something we all need -- myself included -- but I know the quality of my staff and we will gain results in the future.

"At the moment we are hurting somewhat because we are in the bottom three of the Premier League which is not something we anticipated."

Luke Moore's first goal for the Baggies had given them the lead before City levelled six minutes from time, Scott Carson credited with an own goal.

But Bednar had the final say by heading home a right-wing centre from Gianni Zuiverloon to cause wild scenes of celebration.