Wenger boost as Henry set for final return

ARSENE WENGER revealed Arsenal could be back to full-strength for the FA Cup final as Thierry Henry prepares to make his long-awaited return from injury against Everton tonight.

Henry may not start at Highbury, but he is set to make his first appearance for five weeks after a groin injury.

And as long as he can come through that test, followed by Sunday's game at Birmingham, he will line up against Manchester United in Cardiff on May 21. Sol Campbell and Freddie Ljungberg could be there too, with the England centre-back destined to return after injury either tonight or Sunday.

However, given that Wenger had rated Henry as having just a "30-70" chance of facing United just a fortnight ago, his return is the biggest boost.

"Thierry is back in the squad and it's very good news. I'm very surprised but we still have to see how he reacts to playing and training regularly," revealed Wenger.

"I expected his season to be over, and so did he, but he has worked very hard in training and he has improved tremendously in the past week. If there was the slightest risk, I would not take it in the Cup final but his body is a one-off. He needed a break physically. The body is always the first alarm that you need a breather. That's why I have aches everywhere.

"He wants always to play but maybe he will have to be a little more cautious with him. It depends all on the pre-season he will have. We are not completely over this injury at the moment. We have first to see whether his inflammation of the groin comes back or not."

Arsenal have coped surprisingly well without Henry as Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie have risen to the challenge, but they have missed the normally influential Campbell even less.

Philippe Senderos has conceded just four goals in his 14 appearances since Campbell injured his ankle against United at Highbury on February 1.

But despite having previously insisted Campbell would have to wait for a recall, Wenger confirmed: "So I will get a game or two before the final. My thinking is simple. Senderos is doing well and, of course, they can play together.

"But Sol has been doing very well in training and has no deep [injury] problem apart from the fact that he hasn't played.

"Will he start the FA Cup final? I don't know. In football you have to accept to go from game to game."

Wenger is nevertheless likely to want Campbell to face United in what could be a physical contest in Cardiff. He will also be hoping that Gilberto, who misses tonight's clash with an ankle injury, is ready to return this weekend.

Meanwhile, Wenger has told Chelsea captain John Terry to carry on "dreaming" of matching Arsenal's unbeaten league campaign - as the Gunners are the only club to have managed it in the past century.

Though he said Jose Mourinho's side are a "great" team, they are still not as entertaining as Gianluca Vialli's Chelsea side - or as good as Manchester United's 1999 treble-winners.

Terry, who will miss the rest of the season with an injured toe, said yesterday that "our aim next season has to be to go through the season without losing at all in the league".

Wenger responded: "To come out with ambitious statements is good, but to fulfil them is much more difficult.

"Why not say you want to do it? There's nothing wrong with having a dream. The difference is that at Chelsea it is still a dream - at Arsenal, it is a reality."

Not that Wenger believes Chelsea have eclipsed the best side since the Premiership began in 1992.

"Manchester United in 1999 were the best team I've seen. They had David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane in their prime."

However, he added: "And of course we were above all of them every year!"