Arsenal kept up their 100% record in the Premiership this season with a hard-fought victory over Aston Villa.

The Gunners were never at their rampant best against David O’Leary’s spirited side.

But Sol Campbell popped up to head home 10 minutes after the interval and Thierry Henry scored from a tight angle in injury time to earn Arsene Wenger’s side all three points.

Arsenal started the match as they left off against Middlesbrough on Sunday and could have been three goals ahead after 15 minutes.

A devastating counter-attack ended with Thomas Sorensen saving Henry’s shot.

Henry then fired wide of the upright after sprinting clear of the Villa rearguard before Freddie Ljungberg’s chip crashed back off the crossbar after more good work from Henry.

Villa, who brought in Mark Kinsella for Darius Vassell as their only change from Sunday’s game against Liverpool, began to deny the home side the possession they enjoyed early on.

They also created a couple of good chances before the interval.

Juan Pablo Angel, playing as the visitors’ lone frontman, set up Lee Hendrie, whose 30-yard shot was saved by Jens Lehmann.

Angel then poked the ball roll agonisingly wide after running onto Jay-Lloyd Samuel’s through ball.

Arsenal finally broke the deadlock when Campbell headed home from a Pires corner on 57 minutes.

Kinsella was replaced by Vassell as Villa they strove for an equaliser - but it was Angel who blasted a shot wide as they proved their intent to bag a point.

Villa continued to have the better of the game but were reduced to long-range efforts.

Then Henry, who had been subdued for much of the evening after an exciting start, wrapped up the points three minutes into stoppage time when he curled home from 18 yards after being set up by substitute Dennis Bergkamp.

Robert Pires and Olof Mellberg could be in hot water after clashing during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Highbury on Wednesday.

Although the incident did not appear that serious, the Football Association will have to await the reports from the match officials before deciding whether to launch an investigation.

Neither Arsene Wenger nor David O’Leary witnessed the brief flare-up, which erupted after Pires went sprawling following the faintest of touches from Mellberg just before the interval.

Mellberg voiced his dissatisfaction to the French international and the verbal exchange continued after the half-time whistle went, with Villa assistant coach Roy Aitken and Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira also involved.

Stewards and police officers also moved in and the incident was over almost as soon as it had begun.

“Robert Pires and Thierry Henry were trying to wind me up with their talk throughout the game,” said Mellberg.

“There was an incident just before the interval but I didn’t get drawn into it at half-time, I simply made my way into the tunnel and left them to it.”

Pires added: “It was a dangerous challenge and, let’s put it this way, I didn’t shake his hand afterwards, but it’s forgotten.”

O’Leary adopted a Wenger-like stance when asked about the incident, insisting: “I know nothing about it.”

Wenger added: “I didn’t see anything, that’s the first time I’ve been asked about it.

“You must speak to the police. I went down the tunnel first as I hadn’t seen anything on the pitch to make me wait there.”