Injury News: Update on Henry, Arteta, Vermaelen & Sagna

Arsenal welcome champions Manchester United to the Emirates on Sunday, here is the latest injury news ahead of the game.

After months of suffering, things were finally beginning to look positive on the injury front for Arsenal yesterday. Three important first team player in Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen were thought to be closing in on returns to fitness.

However, today the Metro report that Thierry Henry has picked up a calf strain in training and is now a doubt for the United clash, while the game is likely to come to soon for Sagna, who is rated as 50:50 at best to make the tie.

I had hoped Thierry would start the game against United but that seems unlikely now even if scan results show only a tight muscle. Arsene Wenger is unlikely to risk further damage by handing Henry his first start since returning to the club, so it looks like Andrey Arshavin will continue on the left this weekend.

Sagna was always going to be a long-shot for me. I had only heard Twitter rumours that he was even in contention for this weekend, and we all know how Arsenal are with injuries, usually a player comes back 4 weeks later than expected than ahead of schedule, so it’s no surprise if the Frenchman doesn’t make it.

There are conflicting reports on the fitness of Mikel Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen. The Metro suggest the duo are still classed as doubtful, while the Evening Standard claim both have been passed fit to play. Lets hope the Evening Standard prove to be correct!

A team that contains Arteta, Vermaelen, Henry and Sagna is a damn-sight stronger than one that consists of Benayoun, Miquel, Arshavin and Djourou. So lets keep everything crossed that at least two of the injury doubts are in the starting line-up on Sunday.

My guess is that Arteta and Vermaelen will play, Henry will be on the bench and Sagna will miss out. Which wouldn’t be ideal but hardly a disaster either. Having all four miss out….now that would be a disaster.