A highly-charged confrontation with arch rivals Tottenham succeeded in rousing Arsenal from their post-European lethargy as Thierry Henry secured victory in his first north London derby.

Boss Arsene Wenger has been complaining that the demands of the UEFA Cup have been exhausting his side this month and the Gunners have drawn at Aston Villa and lost at Middlesbrough immediately after their two previous European ties.

However, this time around Arsenal may still not have reached top gear but they still did enough to comfortably sweep aside the challenge of Spurs - even though Gilles Grimandi was sent off for the second time this season with just four minutes left.

The home side were nevertheless virtually home and dry by that stage and while Kanu was Spurs' chief tormentor and Patrick Vieira's influence grew as the match went on, it was Henry who provided the cutting edge.

The confrontational nature of these north London derbies was again clearly shown by the tally of six players booked and one more sent off but at least Henry's class shone out amid the flying tackles and late challenges.

It initially looked as if he had headed home the first goal of the game on 20 minutes only for Chris Armstrong to later admit that it was actually him who flicked the ball in at the near post from Silvinho's corner for an own goal.

Such was the importance of the result, which allowed the Gunners to reignite their faltering challenge for a Champions' League place as they moved back into fourth place, that Henry was substituted 15 minutes from time as Wenger aimed to consolidate.

But even after Grimandi's departure, apart from Armstrong's header, Spurs had evidently used up what is normally two months' worth of goals in last weekend's 7-2 win against Southampton.

Arsenal started just as hesitantly as they had done at White Hart Lane last November, when they lost 2-1 and both Martin Keown and Fredrik Ljungberg were sent off.

But even though they were conceding possession far too easily as Steffen Freund dominated central midfield, this time they did not concede any early goals as Tottenham struck four efforts off target.

Finally the Gunners - inspired by Kanu - came alive as Oleg Luzhny's industry left the Nigerian to jink his way into space before firing in a low shot which keeper Ian Walker did well to smother.

Kanu's searching long ball on the counter attack then invited Marc Overmars to attack the stretched Spurs defence with his searing pace.

The Dutchman's cross was cleared behind but the ensuing corner was whipped in by Silvinho and as Henry rose at the near post it was Armstrong who diverted the ball past his own keeper Walker.

Arsenal were still prone to lapses in concentration at the back and when Darren Anderton's corner was met by Steffen Iversen, it was only the intervention of Silvinho on the line which kept out the Norwegian's header.

But if that was a clear warning, it was not one that the Gunners heeded.

For, shortly afterwards, David Ginola, who was out on the right flank to capitalise on Silvinho's tendency to push forwards, tormented the Brazilian and crossed straight into the path of Armstrong.

The Spurs striker, who has been much-criticised this season, duly scored his fourth third goal in four games with a powerful header past Alex Manninger, making his first start since mid-December in the absence of David Seaman through injury.

At least this setback reinvigorated Arsenal as the frequency of their attacks increased, with Henry's free-kick being saved by Walker and Overmars firing into the side-netting.

It still looked as though Tottenham would just survive until half-time until Kanu intervened again to flick an inspired through ball on for Parlour as the midfielder burst into the penalty area.

Full-back Mauricio Taricco clearly brought Parlour down and although eight Arsenal players have missed from the spot this season - including penalty shoot-outs - Henry proved why he is not one of them as he slotted the ball confidently past Walker.

Tottenham were firmly on the back foot from the start of the second-half as Arsenal increasingly dominated and Vieira, who was starting to escape the previously close attentions of Freund, sent a rasping long-range effort just over the bar.

While Arsenal sent on Ljungberg for the fading Overmars, Spurs replaced Iversen with Les Ferdinand and Luke Young came on as injury forced off Sol Campbell, it did little to alter the home side's domination.

Tottenham's only threat was a free-kick from Anderton which sailed harmlessly over the top yet Wenger still sent on Nigel Winterburn for Henry and moved Ljungberg further forward as he strengthened his defensive midfield options.

Arsenal were then probably guilty of sitting back too far, however, although Ginola skewed his shot hopelessly wide when he was left with a clear opening.

The Gunners' chances were hardly improved when Grimandi, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Campbell, lunged in with a badly-timed tackle on Stephen Carr and was promptly dismissed.

Carr also did himself no favours when he appeared to push Grimandi and was booked.

But Tottenham still failed to trouble Manninger and although the cards continued to appear, Arsenal held on for a deserved victory as well as revenge for their defeat at White Hart Lane by the same scoreline.

Teams

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Adams, Luzhny, Silvinho, Parlour, Grimandi, Vieira, Overmars (Ljungberg 56), Kanu,Henry (Winterburn 76).

Subs Not Used: Suker, Bergkamp, Lukic.

Sent Off: Grimandi (85).

Booked: Kanu, Grimandi, Adams, Parlour.

Goals: Armstrong og 20, Henry 45 pen.

Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Campbell (Young 73), Perry, Taricco, Anderton, Freund, Leonhardsen, Ginola (Korsten 85), Iversen (Ferdinand 60), Armstrong.

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Clemence.

Booked: Carr, Anderton, Ferdinand.

Goals: Armstrong 31.

Att: 38,131

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).