Under teeming north London skies, Arsenal and Chelsea played out a goalless draw -- but that was good enough to lift Arsenal level on points with league leaders Liverpool.
Manchester City are third, just one point ahead of Chelsea, as a tight Premier League title fight edged into the festive period.
For the last four seasons, the team who topped the table at Christmas have gone on to lift the silverware at the end of the season but in the overall history of the Premier League only 10 of the 21 Christmas leaders have gone on to clinch the title.
Livepool and Arsenal are tied on 36 points -- with the Merseyside club ahead on goal difference -- while the top eight clubs are separated by just eight points.
The match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium had survived the rain and high winds that had lashed much of the United Kingdom Monday.
Referee Mike Dean examined the pitch and gave the game the green light but, in a tentative start to the game, the players had to adjust to the blustery and slippery conditions.
It was a good 20 minutes before Olivier Giroud had a sniff of a chance for Arsenal as he waited in the box for Bacary Sagna's pass only to be denied by the out-stretched leg of Gary Cahill.
At the other end, Ramires headed over the bar while a rocket from Frank Lampard clattered the underside of the bar, although the ball did not cross the goal line.
As the half began to hot up, Arsenal appealed for a penalty after Chelsea winger Willian took a swipe at Theo Walcott but, at the break, the players sought shelter from the London rain with no goals to show for their endeavours.
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