Van Persie super strike stuns Charlton

FA Premiership/Charlton 1 Arsenal 2:Robin van Persie's contender for goal of the season continued Arsenal's resurgence at Charlton.

The Dutchman netted once in each half, after Darren Bent had fired the struggling Addicks into the lead, to make it five wins in a row for Arsene Wenger's men.

His second goal, four minutes after the restart, was magnificent, as van Persie crashed a stunning left-foot volley into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Following a sluggish start by both sides, it was the visitors who began to mount sustained pressure.

Cesc Fabregas drilled in a low shot from the edge of the area, which was collected comfortably by Scott Carson in the centre of his goal.

Captain Thierry Henry surged forwards down the left, before passing back inside for van Persie — who drilled a horrible effort wide and high from 25 yards.

Henry then turned Talal El Karkouri on the right touchline before chipping the ball up and over back across the area for the onrushing Fabregas, whose header dropped was too high.

Out of nothing, Charlton had the lead in the 21st minute.

A long punt upfield by Hermann Hreidarsson was aimed at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. When the ball arrived at the feet of the veteran Dutchman, he appeared to be at least two yards ahead of the advancing Justin Hoyte — but play was waved on as the assistant kept his flag down.

A simple cutback to Bent at the far post left the England man clear to touch in a fifth goal of the season.

Arsenal were incensed, with manager Wenger leading the protests on the near-side touchline —  but television replays showed it to be a marginal call at the time the ball was humped forwards.

Van Persie kicked through the back of Hasselbaink and was cautioned in the 27th minute, with the home fans baying for a red card.

Alexander Hleb fed Fabregas down the right side of the area, his cutback to the near post was flicked goalwards by Henry, but Carson produced a good reaction block.

However, in the 32nd minute, Hleb again had space to turn inside the box, and chipped the ball back over to the awaiting van Persie, who made no mistake in despatching a low drive into the bottom-right corner.

And the visitors took the lead when Emmanuel Eboue chased down the right and whipped over a teasing cross back along the edge of the penalty area.

Van Persie had timed his run to perfection — and leapt to rocket a stunning left-foot volley into the roof of the net.

It should have been 3-1 when Hleb robbed Jonathan Fortune in his own penalty area and the loose ball fell to Henry —  but Carson was quickly off his line to make a block.

Lehmann was quickly down at his left-hand post to keep out Reid's angled drive, before — with 28 minutes left — Arsenal broke quickly.

Henry's chip back across goal found van Persie in the six-yard box, but the striker touched the ball wide with the goal — and a hat-trick — at his mercy.

Charlton then had what looked strong appeals for a handball and a penalty against Gallas turned away following Bent's over-head kick.

Hasselbaink almost snatched a late equaliser when he flashed a close-range header wide from Hughes' cross.

At the other end, Carson stood up well to deny Fabregas as Arsenal closed out the four minutes of stoppage time to make it five straight wins in all competitions.