Jeffers put Arsenal in control More match photos

Arsenal turned up the pressure on their Premiership rivals as they went eight points clear at the top with a comfortable victory over Charlton at Highbury.

The Gunners erased memories of last season's shock 4-2 home defeat by Charlton with first-half strikes from Francis Jeffers and Robert Pires.

It gave Manchester United food for thought as they took time out from the title race to chase Worthington Cup glory.

And there was more good news for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as Fredrik Ljungberg made an impressive comeback from an Achilles injury.

While it might have looked like an easy task on paper for Wenger's side, Charlton were on a five-match winning streak and boasted an identical record to Arsenal from the last 16 games.

Charlton players would also have been buoyed by the absence of Gunners trio Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole and Lauren.

MATCH FACTS 15 mins: Henry hits the post 26 mins: Jeffers puts Arsenal ahead 27 mins: Seaman denies Lisbie 45 mins: Pires doubles the lead

But this time the champions made no mistake as they laid the foundations for their victory by half-time.

Thierry Henry should have put them ahead on 15 minutes when Mark Fish inexplicably misjudged a through ball, but the Premiership's leading scorer shot against the post.

Henry needed just 11 minutes to make amends though, jinking into the area and firing in a low cross with the outside of his boot to leave Jeffers with a simple tap-in.

Charlton almost equalised within seconds as Shaun Bartlett's flicked header realeased Kevin Lisbie, but Gunners keeper David Seaman made a good diving save.

Henry was then booked for kicking out at Scott Parker before again playing a key role as the Gunners turned the screw on the stroke of half-time.

Pires began a lightning-quick counter attack, Henry crossed into the danger zone, Ljungberg hooked the ball on to the post and Pires headed home the rebound.

Charlton adopted a more positive approach after the break and Claus Jensen warmed Seaman's hands with a near-post free-kick.

Fish then went close with a header into the side netting but Arsenal had several great chances to make the margin of victory more comfortable.

Pires blazed a chance wide after another surge into the area from Henry, and Henry saw an effort of his own flash past the post.

Charlton keeper Dean Kiely produced a superb block to deny substitute Sylvain Wiltord, and Luke Young somehow stopped Jeffers from tapping in from a yard out.

Arsenal: Seaman, Toure, Campbell, Keown, van Bronckhorst, Parlour, Ljungberg (Wiltord 64), Edu, Pires (Silva 68), Jeffers, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Cygan, Warmuz, Pennant.

Booked: Henry.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Kishishev, Fish, Powell (Konchesky 79), Lisbie, Parker (Svensson 88), Jensen, Fortune, Bartlett (Johansson 59), Euell.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, El Khalej.

Attendance: 38,015.

Referee: R Styles (England).