Arsenal rely on Henry to navigate

Charlton Athletic 1 Arsenal 1: The public's pockets are stuffed with IOUs. By implication or declaration, the leading clubs have all issued promises that they will be better later.

With this draw that puts them one point ahead in the table, Arsenal feel no shame, but they, Chelsea and Manchester United suppose they have vivacity in reserve.

Arsene Wenger was grumbling last weekend when he observed that his side had played with "the handbrake on" in the first half against Chelsea, but he may not mind if his players chug round the Premiership circuit a little longer. A year ago Arsenal were burning rubber, but they crashed eventually and left United to take the title.

It is far from sure, however, that the Highbury club will unleash their pent-up verve in the spring. Anyone wishing to check their condition at the moment need do no more than ask Thierry Henry how he is feeling. As his energy level rises and falls, so, too, does the impact of his side.

Charlton were fully entitled to this draw yesterday and, with the assiduous Claus Jensen and the dynamic Scott Parker, they never yielded territory in midfield. Nonetheless, it was easy to maintain their shape when there was scarcely anyone in the Arsenal line-up capable of tearing them apart.

Henry, with his lavish free-kick for the equaliser, was the exception, but profound as his talent is the club still draws on it too deeply. He has notched half their goals in all competitions this season. With the signings of Sylvain Wiltord and Francis Jeffers, Wenger has previously striven to address the dependence, but the former is often on the bench and the latter is at Everton on loan.

The talk now is of Patrick Kluivert coming on loan during the January transfer window, so long as he does not bring his full demand for £60,000-a-week wages with him.

Even if terms are agreed and he shakes off his vapid form at Barcelona, the Dutchman will, however, be another shadow striker who expects Henry to attend to the finishing. Having hit the winner in the 1995 Champions League final, Kluivert has been devoting his club career to disproving those who hailed him as a natural scorer.

With Dennis Bergkamp's influence on Arsenal's affairs evaporating, it could, unexpectedly, be Kanu, with his muscle and trickery, who at least draws a few of the opponents away from Henry. For the second weekend in succession, the Nigerian came on as a substitute to show a purposefulness that had been mislaid for two years.

It will take widespread commitment to overcome Charlton, who were brisk and capable. The manager, Alan Curbishley, almost sounded fatalistic in his praise of Parker, as if he does not expect anyone to listen to a modest club.

The midfielder was impressive, unswerving when he went into the tackle and unexpectedly elusive once he had the ball. Charlton were a team of substance who required just a little indulgence to take the lead. They got that favourable treatment in the 28th minute.

Sol Campbell clambered above Hermann Hreidarsson to clear a corner and the ball rolled free. It is far from sure that Lauren made contact on Matt Holland with his challenge, and any impact was more collision than offence, but referee Steve Dunn awarded the penalty. Seeing Jens Lehmann dive to his left, Paolo di Canio floated the spot-kick into the middle of the net.

The Italian, who later suffered a hamstring strain, is a stimulating figure, but it was an Arsenal revival that his goal inspired here. Robert Pires is, like Freddy Ljungberg, too vague a presence at the moment, but for a while he did help to create concerted pressure.

Henry required no support, however, when he came in from the right, raced across the face of the penalty area and failed narrowly with a left-footer that banged against the far post. Charlton, sitting deep, denied him the space through which he had romped in Arsenal's 3-0 victories on their last two Premiership visits to the ground, but they could not frustrate him entirely and Henry's marksmanship was flawless in the 39th minute after Parker had brought him down.

With Bergkamp cunningly stationed in Dean Kiely's line of sight, the goalkeeper had even less chance of reaching the 22-yard free-kick that Henry flighted round him into the top corner. Delightful as that was, Arsenal need one or two other attackers capable of taking their minds off Henry's excellence.