The 30-year-old has been kept out of action for six weeks by a pesky ankle injury but could figure at some stage in the Stade de France in six days' time.
Arsene Wenger's home side moved one step closer the magical 50-game unbeaten mark with goals from Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry (2) and Jose Antonio Reyes.
Former Irish international goalkeeper Dean Kiely, who made the last of his eight appearances in Brian Kerr's first game - February 2003's 2-0 friendly win in Scotland - earned his spurs in the closing stages as he palmed away a shot from Arsenal captain Patrick Viera - who is suspended for next Saturday's Group 4 qualifier.
Afterwards Charlton boss Alan Curbishley had no excuses.
"It's a very difficult place to come, there's 16 or 17 teams in the league who really struggle here," he said.
"It's was backs to the wall for much of the second half but you are talking about one of the best sides in Europe if not the world at the moment.
"It hurts what happened to us, and we know it could have been even worse."