Arsenal drew 2-2 with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to clinch the premier league title, first-half goals by Frenchmen Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires securing the championship with four games to spare.

It was Arsenal's 13th league title, third in the premier league under manager Arsene Wenger since 1998 and second in three seasons.

"I'm very proud to achieve it," Wenger told reporters on Sunday. "In the last three years we've won two titles and two FA Cups so I think we have improved every year."

Arsenal are still on course to go through the season unbeaten, a feat not achieved for more than a century.

"(That is) something fantastic and we are so close to it," the Frenchman added.

The match at White Hart Lane ended in controversy, however, when Spurs completed a comeback from two goals down with an injury-time penalty equaliser by Robbie Keane after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had pushed the Spurs striker at a corner.

Arsenal, who needed only a draw to clinch the title after second-placed Chelsea lost 2-1 at Newcastle United earlier in the day, raced ahead inside three minutes when they broke downfield from a Spurs corner.

Midfielder Gilberto cleared and Thierry Henry ran 50 metres unchallenged before feeding Dennis Bergkamp on the left. The Dutchman crossed low into the middle where Vieira drifted through unmarked to turn the ball into the net.

Pires put them two up shortly after the half hour in a typical Arsenal passing move that he started by feeding Bergkamp and finished when he met his captain's pass with a low shot inside the far post.

SPURS RALLY

Spurs captain Jamie Redknapp pulled one back for the home side just past the hour when he drilled the ball low inside the left post from the edge of the box.

Henry, the premier league's top scorer with 29 goals, had several chances to increase Arsenal's tally and Pires struck a fierce shot against the underside of the bar 11 minutes from time.

As Spurs went all out to avoid defeat, lively substitute Jermain Defoe fired an injury-time free kick on target but Lehmann tipped it over the bar.

Lehmann was at fault, however, at the corner when he allowed Keane's presence to bother him and he pushed the Ireland striker to the ground. Keane's shove back meant both men were booked and the penalty was awarded against the goalkeeper.

SHEARER WINNER

Former England captain Alan Shearer hit a stunning 30-metre drive into the top far corner early in the second half to seal Newcastle's victory over Chelsea.

Midfielder Joe Cole gave Chelsea a fifth-minute lead and Newcastle equalised one minute from the interval through striker Shola Ameobi.

Chelsea defender John Terry struck the post in injury time but the London team were left just one point ahead of outgoing champions Manchester United, who lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool on Saturday, with three games to go.

Newcastle climbed above Aston Villa to fifth, level on points with Liverpool in the tight race for the fourth Champions league berth. Both are 18 points behind Manchester United.

Earlier, Portsmouth won 2-1 at Leeds United to ease their relegation worries while pushing the home side closer to the drop.

Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to draw 2-2 at Birmingham City but failure to notch their first away win of the season left Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table.