Wenger vows to give Henry time
Arsene Wenger insists striker Thierry Henry will not be rushed back from injury, with the Arsenal captain set to be missing for at least another fortnight.
Henry, who last played for France on September 7 before being forced to rest an inflammation of his groin, has already been ruled out of his country’s final two World Cup qualifying group ties.
Wenger also believes the Gunners’ next Premiership fixture after the international break – away to West Brom on October 15 – is likely to be “a bit early” for his leading striker’s projected comeback.
Indeed, that makes Henry doubtful for Arsenal’s next Champions League tie away to Sparta Prague three days afterwards, as well as the home game against Manchester City on October 22.
Wenger revealed: “With Thierry, we have decided to go for a slow progression. Only his pain barrier decides how far he can go and that is very difficult to predict at the moment.”
In Henry’s enforced absence against Birmingham at Highbury on Sunday, Robin van Persie looks set to return from European suspension to partner Jose Antonio Reyes up front.
Dennis Bergkamp is again doubtful after missing the midweek victory away to Ajax with a combined back and groin injury, while Gilberto has also been given only a “small chance” of returning from an ankle problem.
Wenger told the club’s website, www.arsenal.com: “Dennis Bergkamp has just restarted training again but I think he will be short for Sunday.
“I don’t know about Gilberto yet. We will have to wait until Saturday. He is starting to run again. He has a little chance to make it but he was not out for a long time.
“So that is a positive. Both of them probably have a small chance. Thierry Henry and Philippe Senderos are definitely out.”
While Senderos is sidelined with a back injury, Jens Lehmann should – like van Persie – return to the side after missing the game in Amsterdam through suspension.
