Henry: I'll be fit for United

Thierry Henry faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday's Premiership showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford but says he is determined to be there.

Arsene Wenger has a growing injury crisis ahead of the match with captain Patrick Vieira and World Cup winner Gilberto Silva already ruled out.

Henry picked up an ankle injury in last night's disappointing 2- 2 Champions League draw against Panathinaikos. Robert Pires and Edu also finished the game with ankle injuries which could leave them sidelined this weekend.

But Henry remained upbeat about his chances of playing and said: "I will be fine. I will be there."

Pires and Edu will have constant treatment over the next two days in an attempt to ensure their availability for the game United must win to revive any title hopes.

Henry says that the 11-point gap between the two teams going into the game will count for nothing. He said: "It is going to be a special game. We will go out there and see what we can take from it. I respect United a lot. All the time people-try to write them off but they are always around at the end. And it is only the tenth game of the season so it is still very early. I know it is all exciting but it is early."

Manager Arsene Wenger refused to single out goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the culprit for the first goal. The German goalkeeper dashed from his area as Olisadebe closed in towards goal. His headed clearance failed to go out of play and Gonzalez scored from near the touchline.

Wenger said: "I don't want to put any blame on him. When a goalkeeper concedes goals, he gets criticised. Besides, he has saved us many times. And for the second goal he was obstructed. He is not the kind of goalkeeper who concedes this kind of goal."