Henry misses FA Cup final showdown
(cnn.com)
Updated: 2005-05-17 09:03

Arsenal suffered a major blow when French striker Thierry Henry was ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United in Cardiff.

Arsenal suffered a huge blow ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final with Manchester United as it was revealed leading scorer Thierry Henry would miss it because of an Achilles tendon injury. [AFP]

Henry, the Premier League's top scorer, had suffered a recurrence of a long-standing Achilles problem, the club said on Monday.

Henry did not feature in Arsenal's final league game against Birmingham City on Sunday which they lost 2-1.

He had played 45 minutes as a substitute in midweek after returning from a groin injury in the 7-0 thrashing of Everton.

Henry, scorer of 25 league goals, played every first team game for Arsenal -- excluding the League Cup -- until January when he was rested for the FA Cup third round match with Stoke City.

Arsenal have played in three of the last four FA Cup finals but Henry is yet to score in the showpiece occasion.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to play Jose Antonio Reyes up front alongside either Dennis Bergkamp or fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie.

The Cup final is the last chance for Arsenal and United to win a major trophy after Chelsea lifted the league title and the League Cup.

Vieira staying

French international Patrick Vieira says he wants to stay at Arsenal until the end of his contract in 2007.

Vieira, who was in French Riviera city of Nice to visit a healthcare center for children, said he has no intention of leaving the side where he is club captain.

"For the time being, my contract with Arsenal is still running and I don't want to leave," he said.

Vieira is focused on Saturday's final saying: "We played pretty well throughout the season but we failed to reach our two goals which were the title and the Champions League."

Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League after the first knockout round.

"If we win the Cup, we could say that we have had an average season, even if I'm certain that our side was stronger than last year," he added.

Asked about the sanction against France keeper Fabien Barthez, suspended until October 15 for spitting at a referee, Vieira said the verdict was too tough.

"He deserved to be punished as he made a mistake. But it was much too severe," Vieira said.

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