GOALS from new striker Emmaneul Adebayor and old favourite Thierry Henry brought Arsenal's run of defeats to a halt at Birmingham yesterday and provided some respite from the mounting speculation concerning Sol Campbell.

Philippe Senderos was given the job of replacing the troubled Campbell in the Arsenal defence, with the England defender handed time off by manager Arsene Wenger. In another defensive switch, Mathieu Flamini came in at right-back for the injured Gilbert. Transfer window signings Abou Diaby and Adebayor were included in the Arsenal line up.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce was forced into three midfield changes as Damien Johnson was suspended and David Dunn and Neil Kilkenny were injured so Jiri Jarosik, Muzzy Izzet and Nicky Butt came in.

And it was Jarosik who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when he seized onto a flick from Emile Heskey and his rasping shot was turned around the post by Jens Lehmann. The resulting corner from Pennant found its way to Heskey at the far post but again Lehmann was in the right place to block his close-range effort. The visitors looked suspect at the back and a deep cross from Pennant picked out Jarosik, who volleyed the ball into the ground and wide of Lehmann's goal. Henry was booked for dissent and Reyes had a 20-yard drive comfortably saved by Maik Taylor before the away side went in front after 21 minutes.

Adebayor was the finisher, scoring his first goal since his move from Monaco. He had only linked up with the squad on Wednesday after Togo's elimination from the African Nations Cup but he was in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock. Henry's first-time ball played in the overlapping Diaby and his cross was inadvertently turned by Martin Latka against Taylor. The rebound fell kindly for Adebayor who headed home.

For all their defensive problems Arsenal still posed a massive threat on the counter-attack and Adebayor squandered a golden chance to double their lead before half time when he failed to get enough power into his shot.

Birmingham looked to build up some momentum at the start of the second period and Fabregas made a timely interception to head clear from Pennant's cross. But after 62 minutes, Henry put Arsenal firmly in command with his 200th goal for the club. The French star pounced on to a long ball forward from Fabregas and rifled a cross-shot past Taylor into the far corner of the net in trademark fashion. It brought to an end a miserable run which had seen them exit the Carling Cup and FA Cup and suffer two league defeats.

To top it off for Birmingham Heskey was sent off in the dying moments.