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On this day: Arsenal's Invincibles secure Premier League title at White Hart Lane

Sports Mole looks back at Arsenal's 2003-04 title-winning success at the home of their great rivals Tottenham Hotspur, on this day 11 years ago.

The 2003-04 Premier League season was a memorable one for Arsenal supporters for many different reasons.

Going an entire campaign unbeaten, a feat that had only once before been achieved and has not looked like being repeated since, certainly marks this out as a year to remember. Yet Gunners supporters will also look back at this historic campaign fondly for another reason - winning the league title in their arch-rivals' own backyard.

Arsenal's French midfielder Robert Pires celebrates his goal against Tottenham during their Premier League football clash at White Hart Lane in north London, 25 April 2004© Getty Images

Just a single point was needed heading into the game at White Hart Lane, which took place on this day 11 years ago, after Chelsea had lost against Newcastle United in the earlier kickoff.

Arsene Wenger's men were in the midst of their finest ever run of form against their North London foes, going unbeaten in the previous eight encounters to make them strong favourites to prevail in the 134th derby meeting.

As ever when these two teams face off, the atmosphere inside the ground was palpable; former Spurs defender Sol Campbell in particular coming in for some serious vilification from the home hoards.

Arsenal were able to take the sting out of the game early on when, after successfully defending a set piece from the hosts, they managed to break up the other end, with skipper Patrick Vieira tucking home a fine counter-attacking move.

It was clear at that stage, with just three minutes on the clock, that the champions elect were not simply willing to sit back and settle for the draw needed. They wanted all three points to see the job through in style.

A second impressive flowing move from Arsenal, a hallmark of this title-winning season, culminated in Dennis Bergkamp slipping the ball through for Vieira, who cut it back into the path of Robert Pires to make it 2-0.

The opening 35 minutes of the contest offered a microcosm of Arsenal's season as a whole, as they continued to dominate proceedings. That all changed shortly after the hour mark, however, when Jamie Redknapp took range from all of 40 yards out to pull back a goal for Tottenham in superb individual fashion.

Arsenal players celebrates winning the 2003/2004 Football Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham in their Premier League clash at White Hart Lane in north London, 25 April 2004© Getty Images

Jens Lehmann had to be alert to maintain his side's advantage, tipping over a Jermaine Defoe free kick, just moments after Pires thumped an effort against the crossbar up the other end of the pitch.

Then came a frantic period of additional time at the end of the game, which saw a notoriously fiery Lehmann shove Robbie Keane to the floor to concede a late penalty.

Referee Mark Halsey took his time prior to making the big call, holding a conversation with his fellow officials before eventually pointing to the spot to the dismay of Arsenal's German stopper.

Keane made no mistake with his spot kick deep into injury time, picking out the top corner of the net to rescue Spurs a 2-2 draw and put just the slightest of dampeners on their rivals' big day.

Things threatened to boil over somewhat at full time, with Lauren in particular aggrieved at certain decisions that went against the visitors, but anger soon turned to joy as Arsenal celebrated winning their 13th league crown at White Hart Lane, just a couple of years on from doing likewise at Old Trafford.

The point also proved to be huge for Spurs, albeit for different reasons in their battle to avoid relegation. Far from being a springboard to push on and taste more success for Arsenal, though, they have not laid claim to the Premier League title in the nine seasons since that historic day in North London.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Keller, Kelly (Poyet 79), Gardner, King, Taricco (Bunjevcevic 90), Davies, Brown, Redknapp, Jackson (Defoe 45), Kanoute, Keane

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Parlour (Edu 67), Vieira, Silva, Pires, Henry, Bergkamp (Reyes 80)

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Daniel Lewis
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1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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