Henry takes positives from Shield defeat

Thierry Henry insisted there will be no hangover from Arsenal’s Community Shield defeat by Chelsea when they start their Premiership campaign against Newcastle this weekend.

Henry takes heart from the fact that although Arsenal were looking for an early psychological boost from victory in Cardiff, it was eight years ago that the Community Shield winners last secured the title.

He declared: “I don’t think it will affect our performances. If you look at the Community Shield results before, it didn’t really affect the way that the season went.

“Last season, we beat Manchester United 3-1 and it didn’t stop us losing twice to them during the season. The season is really long and difficult and I think it will be another story.

“In a defeat, sometimes you have to take the positives. When we played football and passed the ball, we created chances and put Chelsea in trouble.”

With Sol Campbell still sidelined with a calf injury for Sunday’s game against the Magpies, Arsene Wenger will be hoping Philippe Senderos has shrugged off his uncharacteristically uncertain display against Chelsea.

“Sol is not available for Sunday,” confirmed Wenger. “I cannot set any deadline on it. It is not just down to fitness, it is match-fitness as well. Sol has not played a competitive game for a long period so you have to give him time.”

Gilberto Silva should at least be ready to start after coming on as a half-time substitute in Cardiff, having returned late to pre-season training after the Confederations Cup.

“He might be available,” Wenger told the club’s website, www.arsenal.com.

Robert Pires, Robin van Persie – with two goals – and Jose Antonio Reyes with a hat-trick were, meanwhile, all on target in a morale-boosting 6-2 stroll against non-league side Boreham Wood in a friendly last night.

Reyes is suspended from Sunday’s game as a result of his red card in last season’s FA Cup final victory against United in Cardiff.

However, reserve goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should be ready to return to the squad after a broken finger, with Wenger adding: “Manuel should be on the bench on Sunday, he is back in training now.”

That could at least give Wenger a potential solution to his goalkeeping problems, with a proposed move for Uruguay international Sebastian Viera not having gone through and with first-choice Jens Lehmann banned from the first two Champions League group games.

With Patrick Vieira having left for AC Milan, meanwhile, Arsenal have moved to offer 18-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas a new six-year contract, while they are set to open talks with Gilberto over a new deal.

The Gunners also appear poised to complete the loan signing of Cameroon midfielder Alex Song, who has been on trial at the club for the past couple of weeks.

Song, an 18-year-old who can play in defence or midfield, was in London yesterday with Bastia directors, who were expecting a loan deal to be concluded with a view to a possible long-term signing.

Bastia spokesman Pierre Carlotti said: “He [Song] is in London with the directors and is in the process of sealing the deal. It will be a loan deal with an option to buy.”