Wenger keen to ‘act quickly’ on Henry contract talks

ARSENE WENGER is determined to end any lingering doubts over Thierry Henry’s future by resolving talks on the Frenchman’s new contract as soon as possible.

Henry revealed his desire to stay at the club last weekend, giving Arsenal a huge lift after interest from Barcelona in luring the striker to the Nou Camp.

Nevertheless, Arsenal still need to reassure Henry over their ambitions in the transfer market, as well as finding a deal over his wages.

Wenger declared: "I always felt that, once he had made his mind up, the situation should be sorted out quite quickly. That's my desire now because, the longer it lasts, it is not good for the club and for the team.

"If he did not make his mind up, I was ready to wait. But now he has made his mind up, I feel we have to act quickly.

"That doesn't depend only on me it depends on the negotiations and when he will be ready to sign. But I think the quicker, the better."

Henry is likely to want certain assurances from Arsenal over moves to strengthen their squad, both in the January transfer window and at the end of this season.

Wenger, meanwhile, is also looking to resolve the futures of Jens Lehmann and Robert Pires, who are both out of contract at the end of this season.

The Arsenal boss said: "Jens should be sorted out in January. We've played so many games and I don't find the time to talk to players at the moment.

"We'll have a chat with him and Robert not this week, as we play twice, but next week."

Meanwhile, Wenger has criticised the Ivory Coast for banning Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue from playing in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Cardiff with just a couple of hours' notice.

Arsenal were warned by FIFA just 90 minutes before kick-off at Highbury that they risked handing the game to Cardiff if they fielded the two Ivory Coast internationals.

Wenger had hoped the Ivory Coast would delay their call-up to the African Nations Cup finals beyond tonight's Carling Cup semi-final tie against Wigan.

However, his request for a delay was refused as the Ivory Coast stuck rigidly to FIFA's 14-day call-up rules ahead of the tournament in Egypt.

That led to a hasty revision of the Arsenal team-sheet, with youngsters Johan Djourou and Kerrea Gilbert being drafted into the starting line-up.

"It's quite amazing when you get to a period where there is no common sense at all. We pay the players to play for them and they can ban the players we pay from playing for us at a period where they're not playing at all.

"They're making so-called medical tests in Paris but it's just 50 minutes away from here by plane and we just wanted the players to go after playing.

"It is completely unbelievable. It's like you play the European Championship now and then the World Cup this summer. When they come back, they will be dead [physically], as the tournament is very intense in a different climate and there's all the travelling."

These are exciting times for Wigan, who are on the verge of place in a major final for the first time in their history.

Said manager Paul Jewell: "If it happens it would be an amazing achievement. But we are not thinking that far ahead yet, just trying to get a decent result in the first leg. It would be nice to get a cushion going into the return game, but we are realistic. As long as we go down there with a chance, I will be happy.

"Arsenal can be unstoppable, because they have the ability to open you up. We know they are good, but I don't want us to be in awe of them."