A superbly struck free kick from Thierry Henry sent Arsenal back to the top of the premier league on Sunday after a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic.

Arsenal, who have 24 points, are one point ahead of Chelsea (23) with Manchester United, surprisingly beaten 3-1 at home by Fulham on Saturday, in third place with 22.

Italian striker Paolo Di Canio, with his first league goal for Charlton since joining on a one-year-deal in August, deftly chipped them ahead with a penalty on 27 minutes after Lauren had, somewhat harshly, been penalised for tripping Matt Holland.

Henry had gone agonisingly close to an equaliser minutes later when he cut in from the right and unleashed a curling left-foot strike that beat goalkeeper Dean Kiely but crashed against the left upright.

The Frenchman made no mistake six minutes before the break, though, when Scott Parker fouled Ray Parlour five metres outside the penalty area. Henry curled the free kick around the wall and into the top right-hand corner of Kiely's goal.

Tottenham Hotspur take on Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane in the day's other premier league match later on Sunday.