English Premier League leaders Chelsea twice came back from a goal down to hold champions Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in a pulsating encounter played with all the spirit and passion of a cup tie at Highbury on Sunday.

Goals from Chelsea captain John Terry and striker Eidur Gudjohnsen cancelled out two strikes from Thierry Henry, who played superbly only to miss a clear chance to grab all three points for his team 13 minutes from time.

Chelsea stay top after 17 games with 40 points, four ahead of Everton who are a point better off than Arsenal after beating Liverpool 1-0 in Saturday's 200th Merseyside derby. Manchester United, who visit Fulham on Monday, are fourth with 30 points.

Arsenal started the match as if the defence of their title depended on this 90 minutes alone and with just 75 seconds on the clock they were in front.

A Jose Antonio Reyes header found Henry on the edge of the box and the Frenchman controlled the ball with his right foot before lifting it into the corner of the net with his left.

TERRY HEADER

Chelsea equalised in the 17th minute when from Arjen Robben's corner, Chelsea captain Terry rose unmarked to head home his sixth goal of the season.

The game then opened up and both sides had chances before the champions regained the lead in the 29th minute with a controversial goal courtesy of a little more Henry magic.

Chelsea were still arguing about a free kick awarded for a foul on Robert Pires just outside the box when Henry poked the ball beyond goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was caught still organising his wall.

Several Chelsea players complained that referee Graham Poll had not indicated a quick free kick was to be taken but the goal stood.

Arsenal went in at the break well worth their lead but it was gone 33 seconds after the restart when a Lampard free kick was headed back across the box and Gudjohnsen was on hand to head home the equaliser.

As tackles rained in and personal tussles abounded, Chelsea continued to cause problems for the home side from set pieces while Arsenal, and Henry in particular, kept their London rivals under pressure with some typically fluid counterattacks.

A brilliant piece of individualism from Chelsea's most potent attacking weapon, Arjen Robben, nearly broke the deadlock after 69 minutes but the Dutch winger could only find the side-netting after a mazy 40-metre run.

BEST CHANCE

Arsenal's best chance to seal victory came in the 77th minute when a well-crafted move left Henry with the goal at his mercy, but he spurned the chance to score what would have been his 16th league goal of the season by curling the ball over.

Both sides continued to attack in search of a winner which would have given Chelsea a first league victory at Highbury since 1990 or left Arsenal breathing down the necks of the league leaders, but in the end the spoils were shared.

"Before the game, a draw at Highbury is not a bad result but after the game I felt disappointed because I thought we were the best team and should have won," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports TV.

"I risked a lot in the second half, taking off a midfield player to play Didier Drogba, but our second goal arrived and that was justice and always felt in control in the second half."

Mourinho kept his counsel on Henry's free kick. "I don't want to speak about it. If I do maybe I have to go to the FA for a visit, maybe spend some time in the stands and spend some money that I'd rather spend on Christmas presents," he said.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: I'm frustrated, having been twice in the lead it was difficult to take.

"It was a very intense physical game, we suffered only on set pieces but we suffered a lot. We are too small as a unit."

Henry said his second goal came as a result of a lack of attention by Chelsea.

"The referee asked if I wanted to wait for the whistle, I said 'no' and he said I could have a go.

"I was just waiting for Gudjohnsen to move out of the way."

In a robust second city derby earlier on Sunday, Aston Villa's unbeaten home record disappeared in the worst way possible as they were outplayed and lost 2-1 to Birmingham City.

Birmingham went ahead after nine minutes when Clinton Morrison fired in a low shot that bounced awkwardly and went through the hands of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

David Dunn doubled the lead in the 18th with a well struck shot from near the penalty spot and Villa left it too late to stage a comeback when Gareth Barry scored in the 90th.

The victory was only Birmingham's second away from home all season and thy remain unbeaten against their local rivals in five meetings since their return to the Premier League in 2002.