Charlton Athletic 1 Arsenal 1: Points shared at the Valley

Thierry Henry's sublime equaliser

For today's game Parlour accompanied Gilberto in midfield and with the news coming through that Vieira could be out for three weeks or so it's probably just as well that Ray has hit a streak of good form. With Dennis partnering Henry up front and with Freddie and Bob as the wide men we were certainly looking for three points. The sun had been out on a fresh Sunday morning but by kick off time there was more than a touch of autumn chill in the air when it went behind the clouds.

Charlton started diving early with Di Canio trying it on up against Campbell almost immediately. The match took a while to get going but once it did it was an enjoyable game in which Charlton had their fair share of play without particularly dominating. Arsenal had patches of power play where Charlton dropped off our back men and flooded midfield. They were difficult to break down and didn't give us too many clear-cut chances. We didn't quite break as fast as we are often known to, whether this was down to good organisation on Charlton's part or a slight loss of form on our part was difficult to say.

There was action at both ends but not much of it was decisive stuff early on. Henry nearly got in while a cross at the other end seemed to bounce off Lauren in Lehmann's direction. There was plenty of contact as when Dennis went in on Perry or Perry hacked down Henry on a decent run. Henry's free kick only found their wall though. 'You've only come to see the Arsenal' Ray had a good cross into Dennis that was well blocked. This was followed by a blatant handball in their area not given by Dunn. No surprise this though as it was the prat Dunn who missed a handball on the Liverpool goal line when we played Liverpool at Cardiff. Dunn wouldn't see a handball in favour of Arsenal if it bit him in his fat arse. He was also happy to give Charlton a free kick whenever a player went down, no contact was necessary.

Henry on the right for once set up Bergkamp who missed his kick badly. A good move ended with Freddie cutting inside and shooting weakly with his left. 'ArseneWengersRedandWhiteArmy' Easy ball in from a free kick for Lehmann. Charlton fans tried a 'You'll never win in Europe' chant which was countered with 'You'll never play in Europe' and 'Do you know, do you know, do you know where Europe is?' Great move involving Rob, Henry, Cole plus others as Hreidarsson was down injured. Jens took another high ball with ease from a wide free kick. We were working well enough, as when Dennis closed down Kishishev but we weren't totally flowing. Parker blocked for a corner following a good run by Freddie to get on the end of Sol's pass.

Charlton had two quick appeals for a penalty; the first was ignored but the second, which saw Holland dive over a foot that Lauren had already removed was given. The Arsenal players were incensed with Dunn, nothing new there then, and someone was booked, I'm guessing Lauren. Di Canio was not fooled by Jen's linedancing and planted the spot kick straight down the middle as Jens went to one side. He then celebrated by impersonating Jens and showing his under vest. I'm pleased to say he wasn't booked for removing his shirt, but hopefully Dunn will get a rollicking for not doing so. 1-0 against the run of play although Charlton had never been out of the game.

Henry tries to evade Kishishev

A brilliant ball from Rob to Thierry won a corner. We seem to win thousands of corners but when was the last one we converted? Gilberto? A red shirt was climbing all over Gilberto's back at the near post but obviously no pen, this was Dunn after all and it didn't involve a dive. Cole had a shot blocked after good stuff by Pires down our left. Once more we hit the first defender from the corner. A blatant foul into the back of Cole by Johansson wasn't given which seemed to nark Arsenal into a very lively spell of play. Johansson was for my money Charlton's most effective player so I was surprised he didn't last the full ninety minutes.

Freddie to Thierry, good stuff, Henry cut in from the right and hammered a shot against the post, which then went off a hand for a corner. Parker on Pires for a yellow card. Pires having hit balls into the first defender whacked this one far too deep. Dunn wound the Gooners up again and was awarded with a chant of 'You fat bastard'. Di Canio jumped at Campbell, free kick given for once our way. Parlour was bowled over on the edge of their box, it was slightly to our left, the area was crowded and Dennis was impersonating a pogo stick in front of Kiely. Henry bent it top corner far post. Perfect free kick 1-1, game on.

Johansson responded with a ball across the face of our goal. Pires and Lauren hit good balls in as Charlton were penned back. Dennis and Thierry looked at each other as they both left a good ball to go through unchased. Two minutes added which was time enough for another handball call on the edge of their box to be ignored. Di Canio pulled up lame and went off before Freddie was held back by Hreidarsson. Henry hit the side netting when he should have let Cole have a go with his left peg. Halftime and it was all square and a pretty decent match to boot.

Early attacks came from Arsenal including a great run by Henry, followed by more good passing as we hit a bit of a groove. An awful ball by Gilberto put Johansson away but Sol covered well thankfully. Johansson handball, are they into basketball south of the river or what? Freddie broke right but his cross was headed out well over their own bar. Dennis manhandled but nothing given, Henry offside, Freddie bundled over, also not given. Kolo did well once more and got his own chant 'Kolo Toure der der dut dut'. Euell, who was on for the lippy Italian diver, nearly squeezed through. Another dive another free kick to Charlton. 'You're too fat to referee' Euell shot saved by Jens. Henry caught offside and I'm hoping he hasn't caught Wiltord's bad habit.

Pat Rice spotted throwing a wobbly on the line. Kolo did well with another fine block. A good break ended with Freddie. This was followed by a fine spell of play by Charlton who were making this a very good match. Some good passing and movement resulted in a Bergkamp drive that was saved. More good play followed involving Ray, Freddie and Lauren as Kanu and Wiltord warmed up. A foul throw by Lauren resulted in an irritating waste of possession. Kolo over his own bar for a corner as Charlton pressed well and rattled us with their first major attack in a while. Hreidarsson headed down from the corner and Jens tipped the bouncing ball over.

Hreidarsson fouled Freddie who had words as Kolo joined in with an attack. Kanu and Wiltord on for Dennis and Freddie. Wiltord went wide right, Kanu up front. Pires failed to clear the first defender from a free kick, not his best match by far. I don't mind him not tackling if he holds his man up, but when he jumps out of the way I'm less than impressed. So then Rob surprised me and committed a foul. Sol cleared from the lively Euell.

Kolo - superb again - with Jason Euell

Arsenal penned Charlton back for a spell as the miniature Campbell-Ryce replaced Johansson. Ray, who our best player, had a decent dig that drifted wide. Euell slipped in our box. Henry hit a cross over Gilberto. Ray cleared, Kanu held it up, he found Henry who shot wide. Kanu doing well again. Amazingly Dunn saw a Henry handball and the Arsenal fans congratulated him on this brilliant bit of refereeing. Kanu waltzed into their box past a whole load of red shirts but his cutback was weak. Charlton pressed us once more and Henry blasted over after winning a free kick on a fast break. Unbelievably Dunn now saw a Kanu handball.

Wiltord won a corner and Kiely held on well as Kolo came steaming in like a flying wardrobe. Pires took too long in a quick build up and two minutes of added time were all that was left. It was still end to end till the ninety-second minute when both teams seemed pleased enough with the draw. A good game and a fair result overall due to Charlton's considerable effort and commitment. Some might see this as two points dropped but all in all it wasn't a bad result.