Thierry Henry lifted Arsenal back to the top of the Premiership with his 18th and 19th goals of the season at Villa Park.

Henry opened the scoring with a controversial free-kick after half an hour, and then added the decisive second from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Victory enabled the Gunners to move two points clear of Manchester United after the champions shock defeat at Wolves, and maintained their unbeaten league record.

The major concern for Arsene Wenger is that his already depleted strikeforce is about to lose Kanu to African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria, to leave Henry as his only fit senior forward.

Henry and Robert Pires caused all sorts of problems for the Villa back four with their pace and link-up play on the break.

Villa had plenty of possession and demonstrated the work ethic that has been demanded of them by David O'Leary throughout the 90 minutes.

But, apart from surviving a couple of early opportunities, the Gunners coped relatively comfortably with all their efforts, and there was a lack of creativity from the home side.

Arsenal were not at their regal best, but they have perfected the art of being able to collect points when below full power.

O'Leary had made three changes, two of them enforced, for the game, Darius Vassell (hamstring) and Gavin McCann (knee) were ruled out and replaced by Marcus Allback and Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Ronny Johnsen also came back into the heart of the Villa defence in place of Dion Dublin who was on the substitutes' bench.

Wenger made just the one alteration to his starting line up from the side which had demolished Middlesbrough 4-1 in last weekend's Premiership encounter.

Young striker Jeremie Aliadiere was injured and made way for Kanu who is due to report for Nigeria next week.

Arsenal threatened for the first time when a low cross from Kanu was deflected into the side-netting by Jlloyd Samuel.

Then Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen had to be at his best to turn a spectacular 25-yard volley from Pires over the bar.

Pires was certainly not afraid to try his luck and another dipping 25-yard shot was parried by Sorensen.

Henry was left bleeding from a mouth wound after being caught in the face by Samuel but eventually returned to the fray after treatment.

And he soon made the Villa fans pay for accusing him of feigning injury when he put the visitors ahead on 31 minutes.

Arsenal were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out after Mellberg had brought down Patrick Vieira.

Villa's defensive wall did not appear alert to the possibility of a quickly-taken free-kick but referee Mark Halsey gave Henry the nod and he curled his 20-yard effort past Sorensen into the corner of the net.

Villa were incensed and Delaney was booked by the Hertfordshire official for his protests, Mellberg following him into the referee's notebook for a late challenge on Freddie Ljungberg.

Villa started the second half in positive mood and Lehmann had to scramble across his line to hold on to a low effort from Angel after Barry had played the ball into his path.

The Arsenal keeper then had to come quickly out of his penalty area to clear from Allback and then Angel was just too high with a 25-yard free-kick.

But Arsenal effectively sealed the victory on 52 minutes when Mellberg halted Kanu in his tracks in the area, Henry giving Sorensen no chance with his spot-kick.

Arsenal continued to look menacing on the break, and Pires screwed a shot across the face of goal after more good play with Henry.

Wenger made a treble substitution, bringing on Kolo Toure, Edu and Ray Parlour in place of Pires, Ljungberg and Kanu.

It was still Arsenal who looked the more likely to score another, and Parlour was only inches wide with a shot across goal after Henry had laid the ball into his path.

Toure burst forward and stung the fingers of Sorensen with a low drive as the Gunners comfortably held on to their unbeaten league record.

Teams

Aston Villa Sorensen, Delaney, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hendrie (De la Cruz 86), Whittingham, Hitzlsperger, Barry (Ridgewell 86), Allback (Crouch 86), Angel.

Subs Not Used: Dublin, Postma.

Booked: Delaney, Mellberg, Whittingham, Barry.

Arsenal Lehmann, Lauren, Cygan, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg (Parlour 76), Vieira, Silva, Pires (Edu 77), Henry, Kanu (Toure 76).

Subs Not Used: Keown, Stack.

Booked: Vieira.

Goals: Henry 29, 53 pen.

Att: 39,380

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).