New blow for Henry on road to Cup Final

Arsene Wenger's mood before the game was not helped by a new injury blow to Thierry Henry that threatens to keep him out of the FA Cup Final and he was even more irritated after a poor final day defeat against Birmingham.

Wenger thought his side were too casual - a view he made all too clear to the players in the dressing room after the 2-1 defeat - and his mood was not helped by the absence of Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes.

Both have a chance of playing some part in the FA Cup Final on Saturday against Manchester United in Cardiff. Henry, however, is a doubtful starter. He has had only 45 minutes of competitive action in the last month because of a nagging groin problem.

After the French star's exhilarating second-half performance in the demolition of Everton, Wenger wanted to pick him in his team yesterday. But a reaction to the injury meant he was left in London - and he is unlikely to be more than a substitute at the Millennium Stadium

Reyes suffered a dead leg in training on Saturday and was omitted against Birmingham. The one positive for Wenger was that Fredrik Ljungberg came through more than a hour following his hip injury and suffered no ill-effects.

"The Cup final? We will have to see if there is any reaction," said the Swede. "But it felt good. It is still a bit swollen and it is a bit like a bruise but I showed I can play with it.