Mourinho's side needed to win at the Emirates Stadium to maintain their slender hopes of overhauling United's eight point lead.

So when Khalid Boulahrouz was sent off for conceding a spot-kick that Gilberto stroked home just before half-time, the champagne was on ice at Old Trafford.

Chelsea produced a spirited fight back that was capped by Michael Essien's equaliser, but the London club's two-year reign as champions was over.

United manager Alex Ferguson had claimed he would be on the golf course instead of watching the match, but it is safe to assume the news of arguably his greatest triumph reached him soon enough.

Mourinho was magnanimous in defeat, but also praised the way his side had gone done fighting.

"Congratulations to Sir Alex, his players and their fans but I have to say I'm prouder today of my team than when we became champions," the Chelsea boss said.

"I'm very, very proud of my players. When a team has a lot of success and loses, it's usually down to lack of motivation, but my team were the opposite - they were brilliant, fighting against everything, and the game today was one to remember.

"And the season's not over, we've got a (FA Cup against Manchester United) final to play."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger added: "The table doesn't lie. United scored more goals and you can only say they deserved the title and congratulations to them.

"You could see they have individual players who can make a difference. They have been the most consistent this season. There were a few turning points when they didn't show any weakness."

Chelsea have been running on empty for weeks as the strain of their quadruple bid took its toll, but they deserved immense credit for a heroic effort here.

After a soap opera of a season at Stamford Bridge, the Blues finally gave up their crown, but Mourinho rightly asked Chelsea's fans to salute his players at full time for coming so close in every competition.

However, he faces a tough task to revitalise the squad in time for the FA Cup final against United. A defeat at Wembley would leave the Blues with just the League Cup to show for a campaign that promised so much more.

The Portuguese coach had been forced to field a below-strength side as Ashley Cole, who would have been returning to Arsenal for the first time since his acrimonious transfer, was ruled out with an injury, as were Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko.

There was more than enough vitriol even without Cole's presence. If Arsenal could deny Chelsea a victory it would gift the title to United.

Wenger would normally by loath to do Ferguson any favours but, such is the emnity between these London rivals, it was certain he relished the chance to kill off Chelsea's challenge.

The Gunners showed no signs of giving Chelsea an easy ride. William Gallas was close to opening the scoring early on when he was unable to turn in Cesc Fabregas's free-kick.

With Drogba sidelined with an ankle injury, Chelsea looked a less intimidating proposition than usual.

Mourinho's side have looked increasingly weary in recent weeks and the psychological blow of their midweek Champions League exit against Liverpool appeared to have taken a further toll.

Chelsea have never been easy on the eye under Mourinho but the lack of zest in their play in the first half made them look almost robotic as they grinded through the motions.

Joe Cole dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area after half an hour as Chelsea tried to find their stride.

But it was Arsenal who possessed the greater menace and Emmanuel Adebayor should have done better than shoot straight at Petr Cech after Denilson's pass had given him a clear sight of goal.

The game finally came to life in the 43rd minute after a piece of slap-stick defending from Boulahrouz. The Dutch defender has been used sparingly by Mourinho and it was easy to see why as he misjudged the bounce from Adebayor's flick and then allowed Julio Baptista to muscle him off the ball before sending him sprawling with a rash challenge.

Alan Wiley awarded the penalty and wasted no time sending off Boulahrouz before Gilberto confidently sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to edge United closer to the title.

Adebayor almost doubled their advantage just after the break with a volley that flashed just past the far post.

As frustration crept in, Paulo Ferreira was lucky to escape a red card for a nasty lunge on Denilson that forced the young midfielder out of the match.

Chelsea summoned up the energy for one last desperate assault in the closing stages and were rewarded in the 70th minute.

Shaun Wright-Phillips whipped in a superb cross from the right and Essien dived in to glance a header into the far corner.

Cole had an effort ruled out for offside and Essien was close to a second as the visitors went down fighting.

Lampard could have won it in the last moments but shot wide and Jens Lehmann made a brilliant stop to deny Salomon Kalou.

Chelsea had made United sweat to the last but they couldn't stop Ferguson's men replacing them as kings of English football.

English league champions since the launch of the FA Premier League in 1992-93:

1992-93 Manchester United

1993-94 Manchester United

1994-95 Blackburn Rovers

1995-96 Manchester United

1996-97 Manchester United

1997-98 Arsenal

1998-99 Manchester United

1999-00 Manchester United

2000-01 Manchester United

2001-02 Arsenal

2002-03 Manchester United

2003-04 Arsenal

2004-05 Chelsea

2005-06 Chelsea

2006-07 Manchester United

Agence France-Presse