Arsenal 2 Charlton 0
Weakened Arsenal, without Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira, strengthened their grip on the Premiership today after defeating in-form Charlton Athletic 2-0 at Highbury.
First-half goals from Francis Jeffers and Frenchman Robert Pires, his 10th of the season, saw Arsenal safely extend their lead over Manchester United and Newcastle United to eight points, though both sides have a match in hand.
Thierry Henry had the first clear chance on goal in the 15th minute when an error by Mark Fish let him in but he miss-hit the ball and it cannoned back off the near post with Dean Kiely beaten.
Pires went closer 10 minutes later when his shot squirmed through the defence but the Ireland keeper beat the ball away.
But the record was set straight two minutes later as Jeffers struck in the 26th minute. Edu fed Henry and then Fish failed to intercept a pass across goal where Jeffers tapped the ball into the net for his second Premiership goal of the season.
His goal stung Charlton into action and Kevin Lisbie held his head in his hands in frustration as his smartly-taken shot from just outside the area was turned round the post by David Seaman.
Arsenal, though, showed why they are the leaders of the Premiership and struck again on half-time as Edu, deep inside his own half, fed Henry whose electric pace burnt off the pursuing Charlton defence. His pass into the penalty area rebounded rather fortunately off two Charlton defenders and into Freddie Ljungberg's path but the Swede's shot hit the post, and rebounded to Pires who nodded into an empty net.
After the break Fish almost redeemed his poor first half performance when his near post header from Claus Jensen's corner just flashed wide in the 54th minute.
Henry and Pires then combined down the right, tearing into Charlton's defence but Pires' shot went the wrong side of the post on the hour.
Kiely got down well to deny Sylvain Wiltord late on while Jeffers should have made it 3-0 when Edu's shot was palmed into his path but he was dispossessed on the line by Luke Young.
AFP