If Chelsea fail to win at Newcastle United earlier in the day, a victory over Spurs at White Hart Lane would be enough to make Arsenal English champions for the 13th time.

Arsenal, who also won the title under Arsene Wenger in 1998 and 2002, would have 84 points with four games remaining, while a draw would give second-placed Chelsea 73 points but with only nine points up for grabs from their last three matches.

Chelsea's midweek disappointment in Monaco, where they lost their Champions League semi-final first leg 3-1, was compounded when champions Manchester United drew to within a point of them with a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic.

Second place means a passage straight into the Champions League, while the third-placed club will have to negotiate a potentially tricky qualifier to access the riches of Europe's top club tournament.

On Saturday, United host Liverpool. Gerard Houllier's team are 21 points behind their opponents in fourth and also need points to hold off Newcastle and claim the final spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Liverpool and fifth-placed Newcastle are both on 50 points, although Bobby Robson's team have a game in hand.

Neither club can afford a defeat as Aston Villa, who have 49 points and travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday, and seventh-placed Charlton, who are a point behind Villa and visit London rivals Fulham on Saturday, are breathing down their necks.

DOUBLY IMPORTANT

Sunday's north London derby could also have ramifications for 14th-placed Spurs, who at one stage this season had hopes of grabbing fifth place and a UEFA Cup spot.

Their fans will be praying Arsenal do not clinch the title at White Hart Lane -- as they did in 1971 to set them on the way to their first league and FA Cup double -- while defeat could nudge Spurs towards the relegation dogfight.

Spurs are six points above the drop zone, but wins for Leeds United and Manchester City in relegation "six-pointers" at the weekend could leave David Pleat's side with more than pride to play for in their final three matches.

Leeds have 32 points in 18th place, the third relegation spot, but are still hoping to cap a financially traumatic season by avoiding the drop.

They play 16th-place Portsmouth at Elland Road on Sunday and a home win, combined with a defeat for 17th place Manchester City at Leicester City on Saturday, would take them out of the relegation zone for the first time since late October.

Leicester are second from bottom on 28 points and badly need to beat Kevin Keegan's team.

Anything but a win for bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who also have 28 points, in their derby against Birmingham City on Sunday would likewise almost certainly condemn them to a quick return to the first division.