Arsenal came from behind to grab a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough and end 2001 at the top of the Premiership with a controversial strike from Robert Pires and a decisive header by Ashley Cole 10 minutes from time.

	Martin Keown plays a long ball (BenRadford/Allsport)

Sol Campbell's error had left the Gunners fighting another uphill battle at Highbury.

Campbell gifted Middlesbrough a 22nd minute lead when Noel Whelan coolly made the most of the England defender's failure to clear Gareth Southgate's long ball out of defence on the edge of the Gunners area.

Arsenal, who had dominated the first half but only once looked like breaching a heavily-manned Boro defence, finally levelled when Pires unleashed an unstoppable volley from 25 yards 10 minutes after the break.

Boro players surrounded referee Andy D'Urso claiming Thierry Henry had shoved Paul Ince out of the way to let Pires have a clear shot and Ince was booked for protesting.

But the goal was given and 20 minutes later Pires looked set to put Arsenal ahead until a clash with Robbie Mustoe left him flat on his face in the Boro area.

But instead of a penalty D'Urso showed a yellow card to the flying Frenchman who picked up his second booking in three weeks for alleged diving.

The incident was forgotten though when Boro's heavily-manned rearguard was breached again in the 80th minute with another goal straight from the picture-book of Highbury marvels.

Dennis Bergkamp, on as a substitute for misfiring Kanu, was almost inevitably involved. Fellow substitute Sylvain Wiltord laid the ball back to him and Bergkamp produced a perfect delivery to the far post where little England left back Cole slipped away from marker Robbie Stockdale and despatched a firmly decisive header beyond keeper Mark Crossley and into the far corner.