Wenger to rest Henry for Cup
The Arsenal manager also gave permission to Freddie Ljungberg to travel to Gothenburg for Sweden’s game with England, but while the Swede did not travel, Henry is likely to play against Holland in Rotterdam. Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires will stay in London to nurse minor injuries rather than face the Dutch.
“It is possible the players who go away on international duty won’t play,” said Wenger. “We have a week where we can work on the recovery of our players, which is really welcome. That is why I will be able to rest some players if I feel they have played too much for their national sides.
“I am hoping none of them has to go through more than 45 minutes but we will check them when they get back.”
Wenger may include forgotten man Sylvain Wiltord, out of action since mid-December with ankle problems, in his squad for Saturday’s Villa Park showdown.
The mind games are sure to irritate Alex Ferguson, who finally conceded the title after his team failed to make any impression on the Gunners’ 12-point advantage on Sunday.
Man Utd defender John O’Shea yesterday said the Gunners might miss Henry: “It is a understatement to say he is a talented player, he can score all sorts of goals. We kept him quiet for much of the game on Sunday but he still had that special moment in him. That is what he gives Arsenal, the ability to turn a game in a moment.”
Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira insists Arsenal are not feeling the pressure of their Treble bid, and said Chelsea had still not upset the balance of power in the Premiership.
“I really think that these are still the best two teams in the league. You can never write off Manchester United, they have really talented players who can make the difference at any time of the game,” he warned.
“We are really close but small mistakes or a brilliant player can make the difference. You need special players to perform at a special time.
“In our minds, we know that we have to win most of our games but it’s exciting and we’re in a good position.”
Vieira insists they are not feeling the strain of being tipped for at least a domestic double, if not a treble.
“Making the treble or the double isn’t in our minds. We know that we’re in a good position but, this year, we’re just taking it game by game and not putting too much pressure on ourselves,” he declared.
Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea is eagerly anticipating the final instalment of this season’s trilogy with Arsenal, believing his side have turned a corner after Highbury.
“United-Arsenal games have everything a footballer wants to be involved in,” O’Shea said. “You saw it on Sunday, the tension and excitement of the occasion. We have been the top two teams for the past few seasons and that’s why it is the elite fixture. It has become one of the great rivalries and it is fantastic to be a part of it.”
While Arsenal may be coasting to a Premiership title, they have yet to beat their biggest rivals in a competitive match this season. And O’Shea believes United have put the inconsistency of the first 10 weeks of 2004 behind them.
“I feel we have definitely turned the corner now, we have shown that in the past couple of league games. If we can maintain that kind of form, I think we will finish strongly after that bad spell.”
It might be too late to revive title aspirations, but the Cup is the only competition United can win this year, so expect fire in their bellies at Villa Park. Saturday’s game will colour the entire season for United certainly, and possibly Arsenal too.
“Arsenal have shown more consistency through the league. They have gone undefeated so far, that says it all. But, I don’t think there is too much between the two teams. If you look at the two games we played against them so far, the game at Old Trafford, we should have won that game. Sunday’s game, it could have gone either way but we were disappointed we didn’t come away with the three points.
“The respect the teams have for each other is very evident, they know the capabilities they have, neither team gives up, right to the end. And there is never anything between the two teams, hasn’t been for the past six or seven seasons.”
O’Shea was in Dublin to launch the PlayStation game, This is Football 2004, where he appears on the cover.
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