Reyes must rise to Cup challenge

ARSENE WENGER has challenged Jose Antonio Reyes to rise to the challenge of replacing Thierry Henry in today’s FA Cup semi-final after the Frenchman faced a spell on the sidelines.

Henry is definitely out of the lunchtime clash with Blackburn in Cardiff with a groin injury and is also likely to miss Wednesday’s clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

But while Lauren warned Reyes that he must cope with the physical side of the English game, Wenger believes this chance could help to convince the unsettled Spaniard that his future lies in England.

Wenger, who is also still without Sol Campbell, revealed: “Thierry will have a scan and then we’ll know how long he will be out for. It could be for a few days or a few weeks. At the moment, I’d say that he has a good chance of missing the Chelsea game next Wednesday.

“It could be down to the fatigue factor from the number of games he plays. Of course, it’s a blow.”

Campbell is, meanwhile, “still a fraction short” of full fitness after playing two reserves games following his ankle injury against Manchester United on February 1.

“Sol is ready to play but I prefer him to work rather than sitting on the bench, so I have left him at home to have a good training session,” added Wenger.

Reyes has nevertheless recovered from the knock which forced him out of last week’s game at Middlesbrough at half-time.

Wenger insisted: “I feel Reyes was a target at one stage in England and he suffered from that.

“It took him some time to get over it as it looked like the word had gone out that you had to kick Arsenal. He was one of the players who could make a difference so that’s why he was a target.

“But he’s got over that now and with Thierry absent, the semi-final is a good opportunity for him to show he can do it.

“It could help to convince him to stay. It takes you time to adapt to the intense game in England once you move out of it, you miss it.”