Henry and Ljungberg to miss FA Cup semi-final
Mon 29 Mar, 8:35 AM
Arsene Wenger is set to deliver the ultimate snub to Manchester United by allowing Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg miss the FA Cup clash.
Hours after watching his Arsenal side set a new English league record of 30 games without defeat from the start of a season, Wenger will wave goodbye to Arsenal's illustrious duo after giving them permission to appear for France and Sweden against Holland and England respectively in this week's international friendlies.
Ninety minutes of telephone calls immediately after the 1-1 draw with United at Highbury were all it took for Wenger to come up with the men he can do without on Saturday when the dominant English clubs of the last decade go head to head for a place at the Millennium Stadium on 22 May.
For Wenger confirmed that he does not expect any Arsenal player involved in midweek to be part of his semi-final side in the repeat of the 1999 last-four clash, even if it does mean two of the Gunners' best players will be missing.
"It is possible the players who go away on international duty won't play," said Wenger, who confirmed Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires will stay in London to nurse minor injuries rather than face the Dutch in Rotterdam.
"We have a week where we can work on the recovery of our players, which is really welcome. That is why I will be able to rest some players if I feel they have played too much for their national sides. I am hoping none of them has to go through more than 45 minutes but we will check them when they get back."
无奈之举啊~~~~不然照这么打下去迟早要出事[em15]
