Marc Overmars was the Arsenal matchwinner for the second time in three days as
the ill-disciplined champions threatened to self-destruct.
Overmars coolly converted a 53rd-minute penalty after Ray Parlour was brought
down for the Gunners' third straight win to keep them very much in title
contention.
But a heroic rearguard action by Arsenal's defence was overshadowed by another
moment of madness from Patrick Vieira who was given his marching orders just six
minutes into the second-half.
The Frenchman, fined £2,000 for his V-sign to the crowd at Hillsborough,
appeared to elbow Neil Redfearn as they tussled for the ball and referee Uriah
Rennie reached straight for the red card.
It was the fifth time this season the Double winners have been reduced to 10
men and they currently have the worst disciplinary record in the Premiership.
Arsene Wenger's side had collected 36 cautions before today's game and picked
up two more during the fiery clash at The Valley plus Vieira's red card - the
home side also had five players booked.
And even though they held on for all three points, Wenger knows his side can
ill afford to lose players such as Vieira for three games in the New Year.
In all the excitement Charlton's predicament was almost forgotten but the
Addicks have now lost their last seven games and will remain rooted in the
relegation zone, all a far cry from the last time these teams met at Highbury in
the third game of season when Charlton were top and came away with a 0-0 draw.
But without their first-choice strikers Clive Mendonca (groin) and Andy Hunt
('flu) Charlton were always likely to struggle up front with Redfearn pressed
into service as a makeshift striker alongside Steve Jones.
The first half started with a flurry of frantic action with each side hitting
the crossbar in the first five minutes.
The visitors could have been ahead after just 22 seconds through Luis Boa
Morte when he latched onto a through ball from Emmanuel Petit.
His rising left-foot drive beat Sasa Ilic's despairing dive but crashed back
off the woodwork and was scrambled to safety.
If Arsenal felt hard done by, luck evened itself out just four minutes later
when it was the home side's turn to be denied the opening goal.
Martin Keown was booked for a foul on Steve Jones just outside the area and
while Arsenal organised their defences Neil Redfearn curled a right-foot effort
round the wall and off the bar.
Dennis Bergkamp then forced two good saves from Ilic, the first on six minutes
with a powerful drive and a second even better one after 20 minutes when his
shot took a minor deflection, forcing the Yugoslav keeper to make a quick change
of direction to save to his right.
The bright start was unfortunately overshadowed from then on, with referee
Uriah Rennie taking centre-stage.
The Sheffield official booked five players in the first half and baffled and
infuriated the home fans with some of his inconsistent decisions.
John Robinson and Bergkamp were both booked for dissent, Keith Jones soon
followed and Youds was rightly cautioned for a clattering tackle from behind on
Bergkamp which forced the Arsenal striker to hobble off five minutes before half
time.
Several Charlton players surrounded the referee at the half-time whistle while
manager Alan Curbishley made his feelings known from the touchline.
That was just a foretaste of the controversy to come as the second half
exploded into life just six minutes after the interval with the sending off of
Vieira.
As Redfearn harried him from behind, the Frenchman appeared to lash out with
his elbow and hit the former Barnsley midfielder just yards away from the
referee who had no hesitation in reaching for the red card.
With Arsenal down to 10 men for the fifth time this season Charlton sensed a
long awaited victory could be on the cards but within three minutes they were
behind.
Mark Kinsella brought down Ray Parlour just inside the area and again the
referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite Kinsella's protests
that contact was made outside the area.
Marc Overmars stepped up to calmly convert the penalty past Ilic for his
second goal in three days.
Inevitably that signalled a Charlton onslaught as they poured forward in
search of a desperately needed equaliser.
Kinsella brought a brilliant diving save from Alex Manninger on 58 minutes
before Petit hacked the ball off the line after a goalmouth scramble following
Youds' header.
Manninger then saved bravely at substitute Kevin Lisbie's feet as the
youngster chased Mills' cross and with Keown superb at the heart of the defence
Arsenal hung on for the win.
Teams:
Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn (Parker 80), Rufus,
Youds, Newton, Kinsella, Robinson, K. Jones (Lisbie 67),
S. Jones.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Tiler, Royce.
Booked: Robinson, K. Jones, Youds, Redfearn, Kinsella.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Vieira, Bould, Winterburn (Vivas 29),
Boa Morte (Grimandi 62), Bergkamp (Wreh 40), Overmars, Keown,
Parlour, Petit.
Subs Not Used: Garde, Lukic.
Sent Off: Vieira (51).
Booked: Keown, Bergkamp.
Goals: Overmars 53 pen.
Att: 20,043
Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).
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