Henry has only slim chance of facing United

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Thierry Henry, the Arsenal captain, has been rated at just "10 to 15 per cent" to be available for tomorrow's match at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The 29-year-old striker has still not recovered from the foot injury he sustained on international duty two weeks ago. "It's the foot. He has not recovered. There's still a little chance," said manager Arsène Wenger, who gestured with his thumb and index finger to describe a slim chance. Although, by the look on his face and the tone of his voice, it looked like he had given up hope that Henry will play.

Robin van Persie, Henry's usual partner in attack, is also extremely doubtful, after picking up a hip injury in the 2-1 Champions' League victory over Hamburg on Wednesday. "Van Persie is having a scan today [Friday]. He injured his hip when he locked his leg in the German grass," Wenger said. Without his first-choice strikers Wenger will have to start either Emmanuel Adebayor, Julio Baptista and Theo Walcott. Although Wenger conceded the latter looks "more like a winger" and will probably start on the bench.

"I wouldn't be concerned [about starting Walcott]," Wenger said. "But [it depends] on what kind of game I will play."

What does concern the Frenchman is the current trend of foreign owners at English clubs."It's important that English clubs have English owners and continue to have the right values," he said. "It [foreign owners] is a change of philosophy. What implications will it have on English football? I don't know. That is why I want [Roman] Abramovich [the Chelsea owner] to come out and say what kind of club he wants to build."

Would he prefer foreign owners and an injection of £100m to spend, or the status quo? "Status quo." Why? "Because we are stable financially and I find it reassuring that my owners are English and are fans of Arsenal Football Club."