Arsenal sustained their Premiership challenge with a 2-0 victory in Henry’s absence on Tyneside last weekend.

Henry, who has scored 28 times this season, missed that St James’ Park encounter with a groin injury.

He returned for the 1-0 success over Derby in midweek but uncharacteristically missed two glorious chances.

Now, the France international is set to miss two further league encounters against Aston Villa and West Ham, or the first fixture and the cup replay against Bobby Robson’s side should one be necessary.

Had the club appealed he would have been available until his case was reconsidered - and then if unsuccessful sat out three later matches.

‘‘I wanted to get it out of the way and I was a little bit concerned that it would play on his mind,’’ said Wenger.

‘‘It could affect his performance or presence in the last period of the season.

‘‘I spoke to Thierry about it and he agreed with me,’’ said Arsenal boss Wenger.

‘‘We are strong enough as a team to get over his absence and face the problem.’’

Wenger could be faced with the loss of Patrick Vieira when the midfielder goes before another disciplinary hearing for an alleged elbow on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Boxing Day.

‘‘I was sure Thierry would get nothing but he got three games so if I say Patrick will get three games hopefully he will get nothing,’’ he said.

The 2-0 triumph last weekend holds Arsenal, who will also be without Ray Parlour and Oleg Luzhny tomorrow, in good stead, according to Wenger.

‘‘I believe it gives us a psychological advantage,’’ he said.

‘‘And the commitment and attitude is so strong in our squad that we believe we will do it again.’’

Dennis Bergkamp’s latest sublime effort set up last Saturday’s win and Wenger believes the Dutchman has been an integral part of the north London club’s sustained challenges at the pinnacle of English football.

‘‘He was a catalyst for this club because he was the first big continental player for a long time who was successful,’’ Wenger said.

‘‘This season, Dennis has been helped by having no problems physically. In recent years he had some niggles with his calf and ankle.

‘‘He has worked hard and had a good pre-season and I think he benefits a little bit from the fact that I didn’t play him always. For strikers it is good to sit out some games.’’

Wenger recently claimed his team could better their 1998-99 double-winning season with league, FA Cup and Champions League glory this year.

Those ambitions will be tested both tomorrow and on Tuesday, when Deportivo La Coruna arrive at Highbury, a match Wenger hopes will witness the quick return of Ray Parlour from a training ground injury to his ankle.

‘‘The fact is that the team has grown and got better game by game because I think we are closer, have more belief, the attitude is stronger and we feel really that it is a moment of truth,’’ said Wenger.

‘‘The belief has got stronger and stronger since December and the players have a common goal. And we rightly feel we will do it.

‘‘They have a tremendous strength of character and they are highly competitive players.

‘‘When you win you always have good strength of character, the 1998 team achieved what it set out to do and this team wants to do it as well and the chance is in front of us.

‘‘Our one priority is to win every game and at the end of the season to make a balance. This team can cope with the challenge.’’

Robert Pires, who has scored 11 goals this season and whose 15 Premiership assists is considerably greater than any other player, will sign his new contract to keep him at Highbury until the summer of 2005 in the next few days.

Ashley Cole recently signed a new four-year deal and David Seaman, 38, should agree to extend his 12-year stay in the capital.

‘‘I don’t know how long he will play but at the moment we are focused on the short-term,’’ Wenger said. ‘‘We don’t speak about contracts at the moment, we speak about winning.’’