Champions with four games left and history in the pipeline, Arsenal confirmed
their position as the Barclaycard Premiership's dominant force at the sweetest
of venues for a title triumph - White Hart Lane.
Arsene Wenger's side may have allowed a two-goal lead to slip, with Robbie
Keane striking a late equaliser from the penalty spot.
However, Newcastle's victory against Chelsea had already ensured that a point
at White Hart Lane would be enough to hand the title to Arsenal.
Spurs' celebrations were therefore more about their own attempts to safeguard
their top-flight status, as well as regaining some lost pride.
But while Manchester United and Chelsea have faded over the past few weeks,
Arsenal had still shown the character to recover from their Champions League and
FA Cup setbacks with a stirring response.
That this title triumph, just as in 1971, was completed at White Hart Lane was
the perfect crowning glory.
Seizing the lead after less than three minutes through Patrick Vieira, Arsenal
seemed out of reach after Robert Pires' strike before half-time.
Spurs nevertheless mounted a more convincing second-half fightback, with Jamie
Redknapp's 61st-minute strike making a game of it.
When Jens Lehmann was penalised for pushing Keane in the final minute, the
Republic of Ireland international converted the penalty to secure a valuable
point for his side.
However, the Gunners were still champions and while Anfield 1989 was
incredible in its drama, while Old Trafford 2002 first hinted at a shift in the
power base, White Hart Lane 2004 may not yet be the end of the story.
For this mesmerising side are now just four games away from going through an
entire season unbeaten and only Birmingham, Portsmouth, Fulham or Leicester can
prevent the seemingly inevitable.
The Gunners' only regret must be the way that the treble flickered
frustratingly out of reach but this single was as potent as any previous title
success.
Events at St James' Park had earlier set the tone, with Newcastle coming from
behind to defeat Chelsea and John Terry striking the post in the dying seconds.
That left Arsenal needing just a draw to become champions and the writing was
on the wall after just two minutes and 42 seconds.
Tottenham's worst mistake was simply to attack, for Arsenal merely soaked up
the early pressure and then broke with devastating simplicity.
Thierry Henry set off on a charging run before slipping the ball through to
Dennis Bergkamp, who, even at 34, still had the pace to evade Simon Davies
before delivering a pinpoint cross to Vieira.
All the Arsenal captain had to do was slide the ball into the inviting net and
the stage was set.
Thereafter, Tottenham survived further punishment for their lacklustre display
by the thinnest of margins before Arsenal relaxed on their lead.
The home side threatened briefly through Redknapp and Mauricio Taricco but
Spurs were merely being lulled into a false sense of security before Arsenal
finally upped the tempo once again.
In a scintillating one-touch move, Bergkamp and Vieira opened up the Spurs
defence with alarming ease before Pires was left with the close-range finish as
he clipped his shot past Kasey Keller.
Davies sent a half-volley over the crossbar, while Henry was foiled by Keller,
but it was Arsenal who were in complete control.
Spurs - with pride to play for if nothing else - sent on Jermain Defoe for
Johnnie Jackson at the break, with Keane dropping deeper.
It was a high-risk strategy but with nothing left to lose, it paid dividends
as Frederic Kanoute soon shot just wide and the home side started playing with
some much-needed vigour.
Indeed, when Defoe and Michael Brown combined to set up Redknapp, he let fly
from 20 yards out with a drive that flew past Jens Lehmann with 31 minutes left
to play.
Suddenly, there was a spring in Spurs' step, with the impressive Defoe
shooting just off-target and Redknapp's free-kick being tipped over.
Wenger sent on Edu to steady the ship, replacing Ray Parlour, but Henry and
Pires both wasted chances to seal victory as they struck the side-netting and
crossbar respectively when clean through.
Keller also foiled Henry once again and Spurs made Arsenal pay, at least on
the day, for those rare lapses as Lehmann's push on Keane was punished by the
Irishman's confident penalty.
The real victory, however, was Arsenal's. The title was theirs and the honour
of an historic unbeaten league campaign may yet follow.
Teams
Tottenham Keller, Kelly (Poyet 79), Gardner, King,
Taricco (Bunjevcevic 90), Davies, Brown, Redknapp,
Jackson (Defoe 45), Kanoute, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Ricketts, Hirschfeld.
Booked: Redknapp.
Goals: Redknapp 62, Keane 90 pen.
Arsenal Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole,
Parlour (Edu 67), Vieira, Silva, Pires, Henry,
Bergkamp (Reyes 80).
Subs Not Used: Keown, Clichy, Stack.
Booked: Lehmann.
Goals: Vieira 3, Pires 35.
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
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