Charlton 3 Arsenal 1

A devastating 60-second blitz inside the first six minutes paved the way for Charlton's in-form reserve side to record a second sensational victory in as many games at The Valley on Monday night.

You've heard of picking up where you left off, but Glynn Snodin's men brought a new meaning to that maxim after a quite extraordinary opening to this London derby and the Addicks returned to the top of the Barclays Reserve League (South).

Two weeks earlier, the Charlton second string had unearthed one of the finest reserve performances of recent years when they mashed Norwich City 5-0, and Charlton made the 14-day gap between the two games look more like 14 seconds, such was the ease with which they rediscovered their rhythm.

Stacy Long cracked home the opener on five minutes and James Walker scored the second not 30 seconds later, and the absence of Arsenal's higher profile youngsters told you that a Gunners comeback was about as forthcoming as an Arsene Wenger opinion on a sending off.

For the Addicks, Mark Fish (pictured) continued his comeback from a knee problem having played the full 90 minutes of the previous midweek's reserve friendly against Leyton Orient, and Dennis Rommedahl was another notable inclusion following the Dane's second-half introduction in the Chelsea defeat on Saturday.

Francis Jeffers' absence meant that youngster Walker came back into the side and Lloyd Sam's hamstring injury was Long's cue to slot into the midfield alongside Bryan Hughes, Rommedahl and Neil McCafferty.

It was evident from the game's opening seconds that the home side was once again in the mood. With little more than four minutes gone, the ball was cleverly worked to Adam Gross on the left flank and the scholar whipped in a dangerous ball that the Gunners defence couldn't deal with.

Long emerged around the back and took one steadying touch before unleashing a searing side volley that beat the dive of goalkeeper Mark Howard and then curled back inside the far post.

Charlton pressured Arsenal into a mistake almost straight from the restart and half a minute on it was 2-0. Gross fed a ball inside to Alex Varney who did brilliantly to firstly spot, and then to actually find, strike partner Walker in a yard of space in the box.

The youngster's first touch was a perfect prequel to a strike at goal, which was a low, side-footed effort that left Howard with no chance.

Arsenal being Arsenal, another total Charlton domination was never going to materialise, although the team coached by Neil Banfield - a former Charlton youth coach - seldom threatened Stephan Andersen in the Addicks goal.

Walker could have made it 3-0 seven minutes before half-time when Varney's ball put him clean through the middle, but on this occasion Howard was equal to another firm strike from the England youth international.

Stephen O'Donnell wasted Arsenal's first serious chance when he dragged a shot narrowly wide having been played through by Matthew Connolly, a player who bares an uncanny resemblance in almost every respect to Patrick Vieira.

Although the chance came and went for Arsenal, it proved to be a foray that instilled a bit of belief in the ranks, and seven minutes into the second half the visitors' deficit was halved.

A mass scramble ensued from a left-wing corner, and Anthony Stokes stuck out a foot to divert an attempted clearance straight into the roof of the net past a helpless Andersen.

Still, though, despite the fact that an unmistakable spring entered the Arsenal step, a comeback seemed out of the question and it was a feeling that was backed up just before the hour.

Hughes, a composed, often elegant presence in the middle of midfield, clipped a ball into Walker and the passage of play that ensued was a pleasure to behold.

The Walthamstow youngster killed the ball in an instant before touching off a beautifully weighted pass around the corner to substitute Alistair John (pictured above), and the promising wide man - who had only just entered the fray - evaded two tackles before ramming a left-footed shot into the top corner for his first ever reserve goal.

It looked like being 4-1 on 74 minutes when there was sufficient disguise on a magnificent pass from Long to split the Arsenal defence and find Varney, but Howard was just able to smother the striker's toe-poked effort.

Charlton: Andersen, Fuller, Gross, Hughes, Sankofa, Fish, Rommedahl, McCafferty (John 59), Varney, Walker, Long. Subs (not used): F Wilson, Elliot, Weston, L Wilson.

Goals: Long 5, Walker 6, John 60

Arsenal: Howard, Clohessy, Gilbert, Connolly, Hislop, Gill, Muamba (Murphy 60), Webb (Kelly 84), O'Donnell, Birchall, Stokes (Spaul 74). Subs (not used); Wright, Shimmin.

Goal: Stokes 52

Booked: Hislop 58 (foul on Varney)

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