Arsenal proved they still know how to grind out single goal victories in difficult circumstances as Marc Overmars came up trumps for the second time in three days.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Steve Tongue reports from The Valley

The Dutch winger converted a 53rd minute penalty after Ray Parlour was fouled to increase the pressure on struggling Charlton.

Arsenal had been reduced to ten men two minutes earlier when Patrick Vieira was shown the red card after he appeared to elbow Neil Redfearn.

The Gunners have the worst disciplinary record in the Premiership but their experienced defence remained solid as Charlton mounted a late rally in a vain attempt to avoid a seventh successive defeat.

New role for Redfearn

Former Barnsley midfielder Redfearn was pressed into service as a striker by Addicks boss Alan Curbishley with Clive Mendonca and Andy Hunt unavailable.

Ray Parlour shields the ball from John Robinson

The first half started with a flurry of action with each side hitting the crossbar in the first five minutes.

Arsenal could have been ahead after just 22 seconds through Luis Boa Morte, replacing injured Nicolas Anelka, who latched onto a through ball from Emmanuel Petit and struck the crossbar with a rising left-foot drive.

It was the home side's turn for some bad luck four minutes later after Martin Keown was booked for a foul on Steve Jones just outside the area, when Redfearn curled a right-foot effort round the wall and against the bar.

Dennis Bergkamp then forced two good saves from Ilic but the bright start was overshadowed with referee Uriah Rennie taking centre stage.

The Sheffield official booked five players in the first half and baffled and infuriated the home fans with some of his decisions.

Eddie Youds was rightly cautioned for a clattering tackle from behind on Bergkamp which forced the Arsenal striker to hobble off five minutes before half time.

Players protest to referee

Several Charlton players surrounded the match official at the half-time whistle while manager Curbishley made his feelings known from the touchline but that was just a foretaste of the controversy to come.

Emmanuel Petit uses his strength

The second half exploded into life just six minutes after the interval with the sending off of Vieira, who appeared to lash out as Redfearn harried him from behind.

Arsenal were down to 10 men for the fifth time but within three minutes they were ahead.

Mark Kinsella brought down Parlour just inside the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite Kinsella's protests that contact was made outside the area.

Overmars stepped up to calmly convert the penalty but that signalled a desperate Charlton fightback and Kinsella brought a brilliant diving save from Alex Manninger on 58 minutes.

Petit then hacked the ball off the line after a goalmouth scramble and Manninger saved bravely at substitute Kevin Lisbie's feet as the youngster chased a cross.

Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn, Rufus, Youds, Newton, Kinsella, Robinson, K. Jones, S. Jones. Subs: Brown, Lisbie, Tiler, Parker, Royce.

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Vieira, Bould, Winterburn, Boa Morte, Bergkamp, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit. Subs: Vivas, Wreh, Grimandi, Garde, Lukic.