'Henry is Arsenal's only fit striker'
Monday February 20 2006
Already deprived of seven defenders, Arsenal reportedly have just one fit striker, Thierry Henry, available for Tuesday night's Champions League date with Real Madrid.
The Frenchman is thus expected to be given a lone frontman role in front of a five-man midfield, with Robert Pires or Freddie Ljungberg playing just behind him..
Arsenal's options have been reduced by the news that Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Jose Antonio Reyes have all failed to recover for the trip to Spain.
New signing Emmanuel Adebayor is unavailable after playing in the UEFA Cup for Monaco.
While Wenger has young attackers Arturo Lupoli and Theo Walcott available, he is unlikely to start either in such a high-profile match.
It had been hoped that the Gunners would be bolstered by a return for either or both Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy at left-back but manager Arsene Wenger confirmed at the weekend that Mathieu Flamini would once again have to fill in. Kolo Toure, set to be paired with Philippe Senderos in the centre of defence, will be the only member of Arsenal’s first-choice back four on duty in the Bernabeu.
Likely team: Lehmann; Eboue, Senderos, Toure, Flamini; Ljungberg, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Pires; Henry.