The Gunners' hopes of a top-four finish remain intact but Spurs are still in the driving seat. Arsenal must beat Manchester City on Thursday, then Wigan on Sunday and hope that West Ham take points off Spurs, also on Sunday, if they are to overtake their North London rivals and qualify for the Champions League next season.

As for Sunderland, already relegated, they have now beaten their own record for fewest points in a Premiership season. Still on 12, they can only get 18 at most, and the record low, set by themselves in 2002/03, is 19.

The Black Cats must also beat Fulham on Thursday to avoid being the first side ever to complete a full League season without winning a home match.

Sunderland opened brightly but went behind after 29 minutes when Thierry Henry's left-wing free-kick was headed into his own net by Sunderland defender Danny Collins, under pressure from Diaby.

Then Henry played Cesc Fabregas in with an astute pass which the Spanish teenager converted with a deft chip from eight yards.

Henry completed the scoring himself just before half-time, cleverly curling a free-kick just inside Kelvin Davis' near post.

To their credit, Sunderland made things more difficult in the second-half to ensure there would be no thrashing in front of 44,000 loyal fans.

And they also put more pressure on Jens Lehmann's goal, Kevin Kyle twice being thwarted by the German keeper. The second save, from Kyle's firm header, was outstanding.

Ashley Cole made a second-half substitute appearance that England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson would have welcomed, especially with fellow Englishman Sol Campbell back in the Arsenal defence - though Campbell made a couple of potentially costly slips.

At the other end, Henry nearly added a second with a volley that rebounded off Davis onto the post.

However, manager Arsene Wenger admitted he was more upset - and worried - about Diaby than pleased with the result.