Thierry Henry completed a dream week with two more goals as Arsenal moved four points clear at the Premiership summit.

Henry followed up his midweek hat-trick against Roma with two second-half strikes to add to an early opener from Robert Pires.

The Gunners were forced to weather a late storm after Thomas Hitzlsperger smashed home for Villa.

But a Henry penalty eight minutes from time put the pressure firmly on title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger rested Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord after their Champions League exertions in Rome, and Ashley Cole missed out with an ankle injury.

But the trio's absence made little impact.

It took Pires just 17 minutes to mark his first Premiership start since March with a goal, running on to Dennis Bergkamp's defence-splitting pass and firing through Peter Enckelman's legs.

Kolo Toure looked to have doubled the lead on 34 minutes with a tap-in after Henry's shot bounced back off the post, but his effort was ruled offside.

Despite having scored just once on their travels this season, Villa still posed a threat.

Darius Vassell tested keeper Rami Shabaan with an early shot and Oyvind Leonhardsen headed Olof Mellberg's cross over the bar.

Dion Dublin saw an effort trickle just past the post after Hitzlsperger's cross caused panic in the Arsenal area.

Villa boss Graham Taylor replaced Lee Hendrie with Ulises de la Cruz at half-time, switching to a 3-5-2 formation.

But the visitors paid dearly for giving away a free-kick in the danger zone just four minutes after the restart.

Henry stepped up from the same sort of range he had scored from in Rome, and again curled the ball into the top corner.

But Villa refused to give up, and Hitzlperger set up a nervy final 26 minutes with a superb rising drive from 25 yards.

De La Cruz fired straight at Shabaan as Arsenal began to stutter.

But Henry sealed the win after Steve Staunton brought down substitute Ljungberg in the area, coolly chipping the ball over Enckelman for his fifth goal of the week.

Booked: Luzhny, Henry.

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Mellberg, Johnsen, Staunton, Samuel, Leonhardsen, Taylor, Hendrie (De la Cruz 45), Hitzlsperger, Dublin, Vassell. Subs Not Used: Angel, Postma, Allback, Kinsella.

Booked: Hitzlsperger, Taylor, Dublin.

Attendance: 38,090

Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).