Robin van Persie scored a sensational second-half winner to see off Charlton and keep up Arsenal's good run.
The Dutch international cancelled out Darren Bent's first half opener before scoring a wicked volley early in the second half to make it three league wins in a row for the Gunners.
Van Persie seemed to defy all logic of gravity when his flying shot from the edge of the area rocketed into the top right-hand corner much to the amazement of everyone in the ground.
Charlton rallied afterwards and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wasted a golden late chance to level as the Addicks stay rooted in the bottom three.
Arsene Wenger was buoyed by news that William Gallas came through a late fitness test unscathed.
The French defender was a doubt after picking up a groin injury during the closing stages of their Champions League win over Porto in midweek.
Charlton, searching for only their only second league win of the season, made two changes from the team that lost at Aston Villa last week with Andy Reid and Kevin Lisbie earning recalls.
Midfielder Matt Holland dropped to the bench while Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl picked up a bug which prevented him from making the squad.
Arsenal started the brighter as Charlton found it difficult to adapt to the visitors' free-flowing passing game.
Cesc Fabregas played a neat one-two with Freddie Ljungberg to set up an opening on nine minutes, only to shoot straight at Scott Carson from the edge of the area.
The diminutive Spaniard was again involved seven minutes later when his header from close range flashed inches over the bar after Thierry Henry picked him out with a looping cross.
But despite their early dominance the Arsenal backline was uncharacteristically caught napping on 21 minutes as Charlton took the lead.
Hermann Hreidarsson's hopeful punt forward found Hasselbaink onside down the right wing and the Arsenal defence stood still as the former Chelsea striker crossed for Darren Bent to tap in his fourth league goal of the season.
Going behind got Arsenal going again although they could consider themselves to be lucky to have eleven men on the pitch when van Persie kicked out at Hasselbaink in an off the ball incident only for ref Mark Clattenberg to incense the home crowd and only produce a yellow card.
And that decision proved pivotal as van Persie got Arsenal back on level terms 13 minutes before half-time.
Carson dived bravely to deny Thierry Henry, but moments later the on-loan keeper stood no chance when Alex Hleb crossed for van Persie, who made no mistake with a low left-foot shot.
If his first goal was of real quality, the Dutch international's second was something out of the top drawer and seemed to defy gravity.
Just four minutes into the second half, Emmanuel Eboue found space down the right and he crossed for van Persie who spectacularly fired in a left-foot volley from the edge of the box whilst in mid-air.
Charlton then had Carson to thank again on 59 minutes when he made a save of the highest order to keep Charlton in the game.
Jonathan Fortune was dispossessed in his own area by Hleb and the ball fell to Henry six yards out, only for Carson to somehow block the Frenchman's shot.
It was then the turn of Jens Lehmann to prove his worth to Arsenal as moments later Hasselbaink teed up the oncoming Reid whose thumping left-foot shot was saved one-handed by the German keeper at his near post.
Van Persie then wasted a golden opportunity to wrap up his hat-trick when he volleyed wide from close range after good work by Henry on the by-line.
But Charlton will be kicking themselves that they did not equalise 12 minutes from time when the usually reliable Hasselbaink suffered a rare nightmare in front of goal.
Bryan Hughes picked out Hasselbaink six yards out and he somehow headed wide the goal gaping at his mercy.
The miss would prove costly as keeper Carson made late saves from Fabregas and Henry to prevent Arsenal adding a third.