Henry gets nod as Gunners go all out
Skipper Henry was rested for the first leg, which Arsenal lost 1-0, but he will start at Highbury as Wenger seeks to take the game to Paul Jewell's side.
Wenger has previously used the competition to give his talented youngsters the chance to gain valuable first-team experience but the Frenchman's desire to reach the final has forced him to dispense with that policy.
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been rested but Wenger, who has completed the signing of goalkeeper Mart Poom, is boosted by the return of Dutch striker Robin van Persie from a broken toe. Wenger will also keep faith with the defence which failed to prevent James Beattie scoring the winner at Goodison Park in the Premiership on Saturday.
"In this competition, I have always put out a side to win the game," said Wenger. "This time the adjustment needs to be strong. We lost the first game 1-0 and we want to go through to the final. Therefore you will see a few experienced players. Lehmann will not play, Almunia is in. But Campbell and Henry will certainly play. Pires is in the squad but I don't know if he will start or not. You will see the same defence as Saturday. We have not much choice especially with the left-footed players out plus Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue being out for the African Nations Cup."
In the first leg, an injury to Kerrea Gilbert 15 minutes from time forced Wenger to play midfielder Sebastian Larsson in an unfamiliar role and they conceded a late goal.
Wenger is determined to put Wigan under more pressure at home and feels Arsenal were unfortunate to lose the first game.
"We didn't put them under pressure enough at the back and that's why we lost the first game," said Wenger. "We fell asleep a bit from a quick throw-in but we were unlucky to lose our right-back. Larsson is a central midfielder but played right-back and usually that's where you are in danger on the far post.
"I don't think we would have conceded the goal with our right-back in there but it was not down to Larsson we should have stopped the cross."
Henry, who watched the first leg on television, believes home advantage will be the key against Jewell's men. The Carling Cup is the only trophy Arsenal have not lifted under Wenger and Henry has promised an attacking evening.
Meanwhile, Reto Ziegler is hoping to use a loan move to Wigan as a springboard to playing in this summer's World Cup finals.
Latics manager Paul Jewell beat off interest from a number of clubs to snap up Ziegler after he recently returned to Spurs following a spell on loan with SV Hamburg.
Tottenham were unhappy with the lack of playing time Hamburg coach Thomas Doll gave Ziegler, with the Swiss international making just eight substitute appearances totalling 137 minutes in just under five months.
In joining Wigan, Ziegler who celebrated his 20th birthday a week ago could be pitched straight into tonight's semi-final with Arsenal at Highbury.
Jewell is without a left winger as Lee McCulloch has a groin operation today, while another new recruit, David Thompson, is ineligible after covering the role, and scoring on his debut, in a 3-2 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
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