Henry’s recent form had been called into question by Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen only last weekend amid his side’s recent struggle to keep pace with Chelsea.

However, while Arsenal’s real inspiration as they returned to winning ways against Birmingham was Fredrik Ljungberg, it was Henry who provided the cutting edge.

For after Robert Pires had put Arsenal ahead in the first half and a seemingly cast-iron penalty had not been awarded, Henry eased the growing nerves inside Highbury.

Twice within the final 10 minutes, he plundered an increasingly lacklustre Birmingham defence to take his tally for the season to 16 goals and ensured that his team can now enter a vital week with renewed confidence.

Then again, given that Arsene Wenger had admitted his side were suffering from a “results crisis“, perhaps it was just as well that Arsenal were facing a dispirited Birmingham side.

The visitors, who have still not scored in five Premiership games against Arsenal, only managed to trouble stand-in keeper Manuel Almunia once in the entire 90 minutes.

That took some doing, as Almunia hardly inspired any confidence after replacing Jens Lehmann, even if he did somehow keep the club’s first clean sheet in 14 games.

However, the net result was still a vital three points that allowed Arsenal to keep in touch with leaders Chelsea ahead of their visit to Highbury next weekend.

With Julian Gray in for Clinton Morrison, Steve Bruce had matched several other managers, including Bryan Robson – whose West Brom side secured a draw at Highbury – in fielding five across midfield.

That left Emile Heskey up front on his own, with David Dunn tucked in behind, and Birmingham attempted to swarm all over their opponents in the early stages.

Apart from a snap-shot from Pires, which flew over the bar, the tactics worked for the first half-hour, with Robbie Savage constantly snapping at Patrick Vieira’s heels A weak back-pass by teenager Cesc Fabregas almost fell into Robbie Savage’s path inside the penalty area, but Almunia was off his line quickly to clear just in time.

Then again, despite Birmingham’s confident start, Arsenal still managed to seize the lead, even if it was rather against the run of play.

Pires started and finished the move, although there was considerable confusion inside the penalty area in between as Ljungberg tussled for the ball with Savage.

A mishit clearance nevertheless fell to the Frenchman and keeper Maik Taylor could not prevent his low shot sneaking inside the far post despite getting a hand to the ball.

That gave Arsenal an inevitable lift and they could not believe how they were not awarded a spot-kick soon after the restart.

Pires sent Ljungberg haring into the area and when Jamie Clapham came across with a sliding tackle, he failed to connect with the ball and seemed to bring down the Swede.

Referee Dermot Gallagher nevertheless awarded a goal-kick and Birmingham were still in contention, with Jesper Gronkjaer and Clinton Morrison soon joining the fray.

Morrison almost scored within seconds of his arrival as Almunia allowed a speculative volley to slip through his fingers only to recover just in time to grasp the ball on the goal-line.

Wenger, meanwhile, replaced striker Reyes with full-back Gael Clichy, who moved into midfield with Pires going up front, while Mathieu Flamini came on for Fabregas.

And Clichy was involved in the build-up to Henry’s first goal as he eased Arsenal’s nerves with 10 minutes left.

The Frenchman produced a scintillating turn past Kenny Cunningham before bearing down on goal, cutting inside and burying his shot past Taylor.

With four minutes left, he rounded off a flowing move by heading home Ljungberg’s pinpoint cross and Arsenal were home and dry.

Rosenborg and Chelsea will, no doubt, provide a much sterner test in the coming week, but Arsenal are, for now at least, back in business.