You are in > manchester.com  > News > Gunners call on Henry

General Sports News

Gunners call on Henry

17/10/2005

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will call on Thierry Henry for tomorrow's Champions League clash against Sparta Prague.

The Gunners have been struck by a major injury crisis in recent weeks and will be without five first-team players for the trip to the Czech Republic, as Wenger aims to turn around a worrying slide in his club's fortunes.

And in an effort to give his strikeforce some much needed firepower, Wenger is ready to ask Henry to come back from a groin injury he suffered in September earlier than he initially planned.

The Frenchman will start on the bench, but he is likely to come on in the second half in the absence of Dennis Bergkamp, who has not travelled to eastern Europe because of his fear of flying.

"I don't think I will start him but if the game allows I will give him part of it," Wenger said of the player who has been the club's top scorer every season since he moved to Highbury in 1999.

"Physically he is fit and he has worked hard, but he might be rusty in the decision-making part of the game.

"Ideally I'd like to play him for 30 minutes and then play him [in the next Premiership clash] against Manchester City."

Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring), Ashley Cole (foot), Sol Campbell (hamstring) and Alexander Hleb (knee) are all out injured, but Wenger will at least be able to welcome back Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva and Dutch striker Robin Van Persie from international duty and injury respectively.

Since Henry suffered his ailment while playing for France against the Republic of Ireland on September 7th, Arsenal have won just twice in five Premiership encounters, scoring only five goals.

But the north London side have fared better in Europe and go into tomorrow's game with six points from two games after successive victories over FC Thun and Ajax.

© Adfero Ltd