It was as if the gods decided they had been too harsh on Patrick Vieira. After red cards in the first two games of the season, both issued in debatable circumstances, now it seemed the controllers of fate wanted to make amends.

So, on 19 minutes, they entrusted Nwankwo Kanu with spotting Vieira's clever run from deep and setting him up for a delightful chip over the advancing goalkeeper. Then, on the hour, Vieira swept a first-time shot past Dean Kiely.

"It has been a very difficult week for him," said Vieira's friend and team-mate Thierry Henry afterwards. "He knew what he had to do and he showed his qualities."

But, if the gods showed their compassion, so did that other deity, the referee. When Vieira scored his first goal and stripped off his shirt in celebration, he was technically committing an offence under the Football Association's recent guidelines. But Stephen Lodge declined to book him, a gesture which earned praise from Henry. "The referee showed great sense," said Arsenal's other two-goal scorer. "The referee knew what that goal meant to Patrick."

Even the FA caught the conciliatory mood. Its newly installed video review panel has the power to issue a delayed yellow card for the offence. But Lancaster Gate said yesterday that, because the rule is still new, it will take no action. This has not prevented Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger from predicting that its retrospective decisions will cause chaos.

"I believe they should just analyse unfair behaviour that the referee has not seen and not analyse any decision made by the referee," he said. Vieira will now approach his five-match ban in a calmer frame of mind. Talk of leaving Highbury has surely been dispelled - for now. Anyway Highbury has a new Frenchman to help him feel at home: Sylvain Wiltord was formally unveiled following his £13 million transfer from Bordeaux. Not that on Saturday's evidence the team is most in need of a new striker. The back line looked as vulnerable as anyone could remember and only the movement, speed and penetration of Arsenal's attacks saved the side from defeat.

Having gone ahead through Vieira, they then fell behind to two goals conceded from crosses, normally meat and drink to the Arsenal rearguard. On 24 minutes the unmarked Andy Hunt fired home Radostin Kishishev's centre. Then Hunt rose above the static Silvinho to head in John Robinson's cross.

Henry hit back seconds after half-time but Charlton regained the lead through Graham Stuart.

Vieira equalised, then Henry produced a couple of superb touches to take the ball past Richard Rufus and then the goalkeeper.

Silvinho distorted the scoreline with a brilliant solo goal, but Arsenal deserved the win and Vieira his afternoon in the right sort of limelight.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Dixon, Vieira, Keown, Adams, Pires, Lauren (Bergkamp 63), Henry, Silvinho, Grimandi, Kanu. Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Luzhny, Lukic, Cole.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Kishishev, Powell, Stuart, Rufus, Tiler, Kinsella (Parker 78), Hunt, Robinson, Jensen (Newton 66), Lisbie (Johansson 72). Subs Not Used: Brown, Ilic.