Wenger is ready to take the covers off Bentley

Henry, top marksman in each of his four years at Highbury, scored his ninth goal of the season at Charlton. Wiltord has scored three, the last in August. Meanwhile, Bergkamp hasn't scored since May and Kanu hasn't scored since October last year.

Henry has supplied goals in seven of Arsenal's 10 Premiership matches, a statistic that simply underlines his value to a team that has climbed to the top of the table without playing with their usual rhythm and cohesion-Yesterday's match illustrated the point perfectly. Charlton, brilliantly organised defensively, had a strategy that looked sound enough to frustrate Wenger's team.

And, in fact, they did frustrate Arsenal. But, having surprised themselves by taking the lead through a 28th-minute Paolo Di Canio penalty, they then lost the plot briefly. First Henry curled a left-foot shot onto the far post and then Charlton needlessly presented the Frenchman with a free kick from which he scored.

"We had a plan to stifle them but that seemed to go out of the window when we scored," said Charlton manager Alan Curbishley. "Our goal produced our worst 10 minutes of the match. But I think it was great for us to get a point against Arsenal. They're a fantastic side." Without Patrick Vieira, who is out of action for another month, Arsenal laboured at times to make any headway against the likes of Scott Parker, Claus Jensen and Matt Holland in midfield. "Scott Parker was magnificent," beamed Curbishley. "One day he'll get the (England) international recognition he deserves."

It was Parker's 28th-minute drive, flying off Sol Campbell, that produced the corner from which Lauren was judged to have fouled Holland. Referee Steve Dunn had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Di Canio despatched the shot with casual ease.

Arsenal, however, felt aggrieved by the penalty. "There was no contact," said Wenger, who admitted that this was one contentious incident that he had actually seen.

Charlton then lost their way and in the 39th minute, after Parker had fouled Ray Parlour, Henry swept home the equaliser with a trademark free kick.

Apart from Bergkamp's hopeful long-range drive and Kanu's shot straight at goalkeeper Dean Kiely, Arsenal rarely broke through the dense Charlton rearguard in the second half. "They were never in a situation where they had to come out from the back," said Wenger. "They worked hard and were well organised and you sensed that they were happy with the point."

The only unbeaten team in the Premiership, Arsenal face Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday. They were the last team to beat Arsenal in the Premiership - their 3-2 win in May ensuring Manchester United an eighth Premiership title.