Thierry Henry underlined his importance to Arsenal as he struck twice against Fulham to complete a much-needed comeback - and move within just one goal of matching Ian Wright's all-time club goalscoring record with tonight's 4-1 victory at Highbury.
Victories can often cover up a multitude of sins and a somewhat misleading gloss was given to the scoreline at Highbury by sustained late pressure from Arsenal, with the unlikely figure of Pascal Cygan also scoring twice.
After all, the Gunners had taken time to shake off their Stamford Bridge hangover in this Barclays Premiership encounter, with Fulham seizing an early lead through Claus Jensen, who punished Kolo Toure's mistake, while Lauren was denied from the penalty spot by on-loan keeper Tony Warner.
However, Cygan headed home an equaliser - only his second goal for the club - before Arsenal were rescued by their new captain as he led by example in taking his all-time tally to 184 goals for the club, just one behind Wright.
In midfield, Arsenal continue to lack the presence of Patrick Vieira while, in defence, they need a fully-fit Sol Campbell to return, with Philippe Senderos, who did so well last season, having found his confidence shot to pieces after being exposed by Didier Drogba.
So much so, in fact, that Wenger dropped the young Swiss defender for this game, not even including him on the bench, with Cygan preferred instead.
Arsenal had been deservedly criticised by their manager for failing to create enough meaningful chances against Chelsea and they were just as guilty in the early stages at Highbury.
Ashley Cole wasted the chance to pick out the unmarked figure of Henry after just two minutes and when the Frenchman was brought down by Zat Knight soon afterwards after an excellent pass by Alexander Hleb, he earned his side a penalty.
But even though he was by no means injured after minimal contact, Henry never takes penalties when he has been brought down. So up stepped Lauren, who had never missed a spot-kick in his career. Until now.
Despite having scored in pressure games against Tottenham, as well as in the Olympics and the African Nations' Cup, this time his penalty was weakly struck and Warner was able to save easily enough.
The on-loan keeper produced an even better save from Cesc Fabregas but Arsenal were duly made to pay for their profligacy on 23 minutes, when Fulham seized a surprise lead.
Toure failed to clear Tomasz Radzinski's low cross and Jensen pounced on the loose ball to clip a superb shot into the top corner, past Jens Lehmann's despairing dive.
Arsenal were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net but even Warner could not hold them at bay forever.
With 13 minutes left before the interval, Dennis Bergkamp curled in an inviting free-kick and, as the Fulham rearguard remained static, Cygan beat two team-mates to meet the ball at close range and head past the exposed Fulham keeper.
Still Arsenal could take nothing for granted at the back though, with Luis Boa Morte producing a defence-splitting pass that Brian McBride wasted by firing his shot over the top, while Steed Malbranque also missed the target.
After the break, when Niclas Jensen's superb ball down the left flank reached Radzinski, McBride should have done much better with the ensuing cross, which Cygan failed to cut out.
Instead, the American international scrambled his effort wide and he was promptly given a lesson in finishing by Henry.
Reyes clipped a ball over the top of the Fulham defence but Henry still had to bring it under control before firing a superb shot past Warner.
McBride was spurred into action, forcing Lehmann to produce an excellent reaction save from his header, which once again showed Arsenal's vulnerability in the air.
At times, especially when Reyes was in possession, Arsenal's approach play was close to its mesmeric best. On other occasions, however, they were simply trying too hard as they clunked through the gears.
But while Warner denied Bergkamp and Gilberto, the class of Henry was evident for all to see as he sped onto substitute Mathieu Flamini's ball to calmly chip the keeper.
Cygan then put a rather flattering gloss on the scoreline as he thumped home his second goal of the game from close range after Toure had failed to convert Bergkamp's inviting cross.
As the stadium announcer wryly put it, Cygan is now just 182 goals behind Wright's record. Henry, however, is somewhat closer. History awaits.
