Gunners clinch league crown

By Tony Leighton

Arsenal win FA Cup

Arsenal striker Julie Fleeting was on target as the Gunners beat Fulham 3-1 to clinch the Women's Premier League title and complete a double celebration at Highbury.

Four hours after Arsene Wenger's Gunners had been presented with the Premiership, goals by Lianne Sanderson, Fleeting and Ellen Maggs saw the women's team complete an FA Cup and League double.

Wenger and Patrick Vieira were part of a near-5,000 crowd who roared the Gunners to their third league title in four years and their 19th trophy in 18 seasons.

Fleeting, the hat-trick heroine of the FA Cup final win against Charlton two weeks ago, hit her 16th goal in 10 games in the second half after strike partner Sanderson's 38th minute opener.

Rachel McArthur pulled a goal back in the 85th minute, but deep into stoppage time Maggs headed the victory clincher to wrap up the closest title chase in the history of the Women's Premier League.

Victory for either side would have given them the title, but a draw would have seen long-time leaders Charlton crowned champions.

Having beaten the Addicks to win the Cup, Arsenal robbed them of the championship by a single point.

Fulham's defeat left them empty-handed 12 months after completing the treble.

And it will be the Gunners rather than the Cottagers who will be next season's English representatives in the Women's Uefa Cup.

Arsenal manager Vic Akers said: "It's a great day for the club and it was fantastic that people like Mr Wenger and Patrick Vieira stayed to support the girls.

"We deserved to win the league for our play since Christmas and we did everything we needed to in front of a very appreciative crowd - it's tremendous!"