Arsenal: Henry plays down injury fears

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry played down fears of an injury crisis ahead of Sunday's clash at Old Trafford in the wake of his side's bruising encounter at Panathinaikos.

Arsenal allowed the lead to slip through their fingers twice in Athens, just as they had squandered two points in their previous Champions League away tie to Rosenborg.

Even though Fredrik Ljungberg and Henry scored, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was at fault for both equalisers as he typified his side's inability to repeat their supreme Premiership form in Europe.

With Gilberto Silva already ruled out of Sunday's game against Manchester United and Patrick Vieira battling to recover from a twisted ankle, Arsenal could ill afford any further injuries.

However, Henry, Robert Pires and Edu sustained ankle knocks in a physical battle, leaving boss Arsene Wenger to remark that the club's medical staff will be worked hard in the next few days.

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Patrick Vieira is still battling to regain fitness in time for Sunday's clash at Old Trafford as Arsenal hope to stave off an injury crisis ahead of the match which could severely dent Manchester United's title ambitions.

And Thierry Henry also eased fears as he pledged to recover from an ankle injury to face United, warning his side have added a dogged "fighting spirit" to their natural ability.

It doesn't matter if they are all fit. Man U are going to beat then down.

Yeah Man Utd are gonna murder the Gunners


Oh damn i cant be a Man Utd fan because i'm not arrogant enough

Ok a bit of realism here if Man Utd win on Sunday it will be a surprise

The thing that could work in Man Utd favour could be the pressure of the undefeated run and complacency

Looking at it from the other way The Arsenal have the confidence and have been playing sensational football

i hope Arsenal mulla them but in a masohistic way i hope both side play how they can play so its a great game

I suspect that Man Utd will try and kick The Arsenal off the park unfortunately

:party-smiley-018:

Influential captains Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira are both struggling to be fit for Sunday's Premiership showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal.

United skipper Keane is battling to shrug off a flu virus ahead of Sunday's crucial Old Trafford clash with Arsenal.

Keane missed the Champions League trip to Prague in midweek and the Irishman still has not fully recovered.

If Keane does not make it, John O'Shea may continue in central midfield, while Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to return.

Quinton Fortune (calf) is the only definite absentee.



Vieira, whose dismissal at Old Trafford sparked last season's melee, was initially rated as having just a 20% chance of playing on Sunday after being ruled out of their midweek Champions League tie in Athens with a twisted ankle.

However, after remaining in London to receive intensive treatment, the France captain's condition has since improved and he is now privately said to have a 50-50 chance of playing.

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This is going to be a great game. I expect Man U to be at their best and if last years game is anything to go by there is going to be no loved lost between the two.