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UEFA Champions League: Henry casts shadow over Arsenal's start [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
London (Reuters) - A string of absentees led by striker Thierry Henry and the fallout from their latest domestic defeat will haunt Arsenal in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League opener against Swiss outsiders Thun.
Henry is out for at least a month with a groin injury, keeper Jens Lehmann is suspended and defender Sol Campbell is a doubt after a lengthy injury lay-off and his absence from Saturday's 2- 1 defeat at Middlesborough.
That loss followed two others to Chelsea, in the Community Shield and Premier League, in a faltering start to the season by an Arsenal side who look none too solid at the back.
Add the fact that manager Arsene Wenger has not replaced their hugely influential captain Patrick Vieira, now at Juventus, and Wednesday's Group B tie suddenly starts to look like a banana skin for the once all-conquering side.
Defender Ashley Cole is taking nothing for granted against a club who were playing amateur football less than 10 years ago and whose annual budget is a paltry US$4.4 million.
"Wednesday looks like a good game for us to bounce back on paper, but it's not about the names on paper, it's about how you play on the day," Cole told reporters after the Boro defeat.
"They will have nothing to lose and they will come out and try to win. It's going to be tough for us, but we've got to forget about this result and start playing our best football.
BIG SETBACKS
"We've responded to big setbacks in the past and we're going to have to do that again if we want to win anything this year."
Arsenal have never shown their true potential in the Champions League, with only quarter-final places to show for their efforts in Europe, despite winning seven Premier League and FA Cup titles under Wenger.
Jose Antonio Reyes and Dennis Bergkamp are likely to lead the attack in Henry's absence, with Robin van Persie tipped for a second- half appearance.
The thornier problem is at the back, where Pascal Cygan remains unconvincing as a central defender and Kolo Toure is short of his best form.
Campbell may be pressed into action though he is not match-fit, having not played a competitive game since last May.
Thun will probably play with the lone striker system that undid Dynamo Kiev and Malmo in the qualifying rounds, with newly-capped Swiss international Mauro Lustrinelli looking to pounce on whatever chances come Thun's way.
Thun captain Andres Gerber missed Saturday's 0- 0 draw at Young Boys Bern with an inflamed tendon, but is expected to return to the midfield at Highbury.
Cameroon defender Armand Deumi has also returned to training after being out for a month with a groin injury, but is unlikely to start.
Probable teams
Arsenal: 24- Manuel Almunia; 12- Lauren, 18- Pascal Cygan, 28- Kolo Toure, 3- Ashley Cole; 8- Fredrik Ljungberg, 15- Francesc Fabregas, 19- Gilberto, 7- Robert Pires; 10- Dennis Bergkamp, 9- Jose Antonio Reyes Thun: 1- Eldin Jakupovic; 17- Alen Orman, 26- Selver Hodzic, 5- Ljubo Milicevic, 2- Leandro, 3- Jose Goncalves; 6- Bernardi, 21- Nelson Ferreira, 19- Silvan Aegerter, 11- Andres Gerber or 9- Adriano; 20- Mauro Lustrinelli
Referee: Gzregorz Gilewski (Poland).
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