While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger did not declare whether he would consider the pair for the cup final if they had not featured against Birmingham a week on Sunday, the French coach reflected a warm-up would be “ideal”.

“Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg will both be out for the next two games,” Wenger told ArsenalPLUS on the club’s official website, www.arsenal.com.

“It is difficult to say [when they will be back].

“Freddie has not even started training whereas Thierry has – but even then we have to wait a little bit to see how he responds.”

Wenger added: “Ideally you would want them to be available before and at least play a game, but we have to be cautious. It just depends who is available on the day.”

Although Arsenal have missed out on this season’s Barclays Premiership title to Chelsea, Wenger accepts the need to finish second ahead of United to avoid the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

Newcastle discovered the potential perils of the qualifying round last season in being defeated by Partizan Belgrade and ending up in the UEFA Cup.

The Arsenal squad would also have to report for pre-season training a few weeks earlier to ensure they were ready for action.

“It’s very important for us to finish second,” stressed Wenger.

“The qualifying round of the Champions League becomes more and more difficult every year.

“If you finish second you can say that you are definitely in the Champions League next year. If you finish third, you cannot say that. You are only in the qualifying round.”

Arsenal have at least established a four-point advantage over third-placed United, who must still face West Brom, Chelsea and Southampton.

The Gunners, meanwhile, take on Liverpool at Highbury on Sunday, followed by Everton and Birmingham City.

As well as being without Henry and Ljunberg against Liverpool, England defender Sol Campbell still faces a battle to regain his first-team place.

Gael Clichy (foot) is out for the season, but Mathieu Flamini is pushing for a place once more after completing another match for the reserves this week following his thigh injury.

Striker Dennis Bergkamp, meanwhile, will be hoping for a recall to the side, although Robin van Persie impressed again at West Brom last Monday night.

Bergkamp at least believes Arsenal have now recovered lost ground on Chelsea, having regained ther defensive stability.

“In the season, we had a very difficult period when we lost a lot of points. We just couldn’t fix it in time,” said the Dutchman.

“We had some injuries and suspensions, and it really hurt us. That made the difference from being five points in front to five points behind.

“But it has come together again now. I think we are more relaxed now than we were three or four months ago, and that makes a difference.”

Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Hawthorns was their 10th clean sheet in the past 11 games, with the form of Philippe Senderos and Kolo Toure having barred Campbell’s return to the side after injury.

“We had some problems defending. We leaked a lot of goals, gave a lot of chances away, but I feel we have sorted that out now,” added Bergkamp.

“We have kept a lot of clean sheets and we’re playing from the back again. As soon as it’s solid at the back, you can concentrate on attacking.”