Damaged stomach and groin muscles were the latest in a series of niggling injuries to afflict the French forward, who had lead the Gunners into the Champions League final on the back of a string of breathtaking displays.

Wenger openly admitted he felt his talisman would need a break from the action sooner rather than later, but would clearly not have wanted it to be enforced.

The Arsenal boss, however, is in no doubt where the blame lies.

“He is paying the price of success,” said Wenger, who will be without Henry for the rest of the season.

“I feel he has been badly managed after the World Cup by the French football team.

“I take responsibility for all the rest, but not for what I have not done.

“After the World Cup final on July 9, I gave him a holiday until August 4.

“Then he came back, we prepared him, I left him out of the Champions League qualifier in Zagreb, they [France] called him up for the game on August 16 - less than 14 days after he came back – and they played him in the whole game against Bosnia. It was a friendly.

“After he had played in the World Cup final – why do they need to play him in the whole game?”

The Arsenal manager continued: “After that he played for us the whole game of the game against Aston Villa – we were desperate to win the first game at the Emirates.

“Then after that they [France] called him up again, and he has played every friendly since, when he was already on his knees.”

Wenger has often been at loggerheads with France coach Raymond Domenech, also expressing concern over the use of defender William Gallas for friendly matches.

The Arsenal boss admitted footballing relations with his countrymen can often become strained.

Wenger quipped: “It was very difficult to get in touch with the French national team after the World Cup. You know the French.”

There is, however, no doubt in Wenger’s mind Henry has not had the same influence this season as a direct result of involvement with the national team.

The Gunners boss, though, accepts he perhaps took some risks on the player himself.

Wenger said: “I decided not to play him in the Champions League qualifier to give him preparation for Aston Villa, and after having a week’s breather and to continue the progression.

“I then should have sacrificed him again against Villa. Maybe that is where I made the mistake.

“But you pay the players and it is difficult to imagine you sacrifice the target of our season, the Champions League, and do not play him, and he then goes to play a friendly for the national team – it is very difficult to take.

“Then you say to your board, ’no I do not play him in the first game, but he plays in the national team’. You have a responsibility to your fans as well.”

With Henry ruled out for the rest of the campaign, it had been suggested he could have played his last game for the Gunners.

But the Arsenal captain has dismissed those reports and pledged himself to the Barclays Premiership club for the remainder of his career, declaring: “I am staying here for life.”

Wenger believes Henry should not feel to blame for his injury problems this season.

“Thierry has played a World Cup, he has a clean lifestyle, he is every night in bed, he eats well and drinks what a sportsman should, but sometimes you have to accept that nature sometimes says stop, I do not want it now, and you have to stop. Its part of our job,” said the Arsenal manager.

“We depend first on our health. When you are 20 you feel nothing can destroy you – but suddenly a small little part of your body can put you on your knees. That is football.”

Wenger added: “There is nothing worse when you are a football player. You know that you are judged on your performances – and you know you cannot perform at your best.

“He tells me that he is sorry and he feels he has let us down a little bit - but he should not feel that because what can you do about injuries?”