Henry: We can still go through
The Gunners were beaten by the Dutch league leaders following a long-range effort by Edison Mendez. Manager Arsene Wenger was not impressed by some negative tactics from Ronald Koeman’s side, especially in the first-half.
Henry, however, accepts that is something Arsenal have to rise above in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in a fortnight.
He said: “They were waiting for us at the back, we knew that. For once we were patient and we were passing the ball around well, creating some chances – but did not find the way to score. It is still an open tie and we can do the job at home.”
The Frenchman added: “The only thing I can say is that for once we have to stop being 1-0 down.
Sometimes football is kind of weird. Before we were more of a team which when we went ahead we won and when we went behind we struggled.
“With all respect to PSV, we showed we have enough to turn it around at home.”
Henry is expected to be one of several first-team regulars rested for Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium. The Arsenal captain revealed he had been hampered by a niggling injury recently, but battled on for the good of the side.
He said: “I have been playing with a bad foot for two weeks. I like to go out there, even if I am not 100%. It is affecting my mobility, but I just want to help the team.”
Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann was disappointed to have been beaten low at his right post by Mendez’s well-struck effort, the German unable to keep the ball out despite getting a hand to it after diving at full stretch.
It was his first appearance for three matches, having been replaced by Manuel Almunia for the last two FA Cup outings. Lehmann is suspended for the Carling final.
The German said: “The number of games we have, it is difficult to perform always at your top level. I do not play twice a week, and for me the break probably is too long sometimes. You have this rubbish system in England with all the cup games, and we have to cope with that.”
Meanwhile Wenger only has to ask for funds to strengthen the Arsenal squad at the end of the season should he feel the need, according to managing director Keith Edelman.
The Gunners parent holding company yesterday announced their half-year financial results for the six months up to 30 November 2006. Although they showed an overall loss of £6.2m, pre-tax profits before net finance charges are up year on year from £14.3m to £19.6m.
Despite the associated costs of some £390m following the move to the impressive new, 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium, operating profits before depreciation and player trading were up 150%, while group turnover increased from £57m to £100.8m.
Edelman maintains, while there has to be an ongoing commitment to the project, off-field activities only serve to improve the options available to the manager in terms of signing new talent.
“We have always found funds for the manager when he wants funds,” said Edelman.
“But, at the moment, we have got a very big and talented squad of players. It would be his judgment call towards the end of the season, and he says what he would like to spend in the transfer window.”
Meanwhile, the redevelopment of Highbury into over 700 residential units is now under way, with demolition work completed.
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