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.
© 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.
© 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)
