A possibly dodgy penalty put Charlton ahead just before the half hour, Di Canio converting in typically cheeky style after Matt Holland had taken a tumble over Lauren's leg.

Thierry Henry hit the post soon after, and then equalised 10 minutes later with a beautiful curling free kick after Parlour had been barged over just outside the D.

Arsene Wenger says that Holland's exagerration for the penalty was worse than Robert Pires's against Pompey. Not sure about that. The way I see it, there may have been more contact in the Pires incident, but it was contact that Pires created himself. There may have been less contact in Holland's case, but Lauren was in the way and it could be argued that Holland had to jump to avoid him, whereas there was no need for Pires to go down at all. Add to that the fact that Holland did not appeal for a penalty, and I think Pires edges it in the "simulation" stakes.

But what has interested me the most is the way that so many pundits (including on the radio 5 commentatary I was listening to) have been saying how Matt Holland is "not the type of player who would dive".

Some Arsenal fans will argue that this translates to "not an Arsenal player", but there's no doubt that it's the sort of thing that would also have been said about Tony Adams, to name but one. More likely, it translates to "British", because these days it does seem to be foreigners who get branded as divers. But not exclusively. I'm sure the next time Michael Owen does it, for example, it will attract plenty of attention (because we aren't the only ones who have noticed).

What I want to say about it though, is that Robert Pires is a player about whom no-one will ever say that he's "not the type". The reason is: he did it really blatantly last year against Valencia, and he admitted to it. So, as we've said before on Arseweb, the golden rules for diving are 1) only do it if you can do it well, and 2) don't ever own up to it.

The draw takes us top again, one point ahead of Chelsea. Charlton have been looking good recently so it's not such a bad result. Arsenal are unbeaten and 4 points ahead of last year's score at the same point in the season, having played at Anfield and Old Trafford, and without really hitting good form. Next up is Elland Road.