Henry and Ljungberg to miss Cup semi-final

Arsene Wenger is ready to deliver the ultimate snub to Manchester United by resting Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.

Hours after watching his Arsenal side set a new English league record of 30 games without defeat from the start of a season, Wenger will wave goodbye to Arsenal’s illustrious duo today after giving them permission to appear for France and Sweden against Holland and England respectively in this week’s international friendlies.

Ninety minutes of telephone calls immediately after yesterday’s 1-1 draw with United at Highbury were all it took for Wenger to come up with the men he can do without when the dominant English clubs of the last decade go head to head for a place at the Millennium Stadium on May 22.

Wenger confirmed that he does not expect any Arsenal player involved in midweek to be part of his side in the repeat of the 1999 last-four clash, even if it does mean two of the Gunners’ best players will be missing.

“It is possible the players who go away on international duty won’t play,” said Wenger, who confirmed Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires will stay in London to nurse minor injuries rather than face the Dutch in Rotterdam.

“We have a week where we can work on the recovery of our players, which is really welcome.”