Thierry Henry of Arsenal gets a pen from a soccer fan to sign his autograph after arriving with his team in Prague's Ruzyne Airport yesterday. Arsenal faces Czech team Sparta Prague in their Champions League Group B match today. - REUTERS
london, (reuters)
STRIKER THIERRY HENRY has been named in Arsenal's squad to face Sparta Prague in the Champions League today after more than a month out through injury.
The return of Henry, who has not played since injuring his groin in France's World Cup qualifying win over Ireland on September 7, will provide a major boost to a struggling side.
"I don't think I will start him but if the game allows I will give him part of it," manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website yesterday.
"Physically he is fit and he has worked hard, but he might be rusty in the decision-making part of the game.
"Ideally I'd like to play him for 30 minutes and then play him against Manchester City (on Saturday).
"The only negative part is that he is not training if he's with us, but the European game can give him more than he would get in training."
Arsenal have lost two and drawn one of their five Premier League games since the influential Frenchman and club captain was sidelined, including Saturday's 2-1 loss to lowly West Bromwich Albion.
CLEAR FAVOURITES
However, they have won both their Group B games in Europe against Swiss outsiders Thun and Ajax Amsterdam. Another victory today would make them clear favourites to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase.
They will have to do so without several regulars after injury ruled out defenders Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, along with midfielders Fredrik Ljungberg and Alexander Hleb.
Dutch playmaker Dennis Bergkamp, who has a fear of flying, has not travelled.
On the plus side, Dutch forward Robin van Persie and German keeper Jens Lehmann return from suspension in Europe, while Brazilian midfielder Gilberto is back after missing Saturday's game following international duty.
UPSTARTS THUN
Both aspects of the Champions League are on show this week as Bayern Munich take on Juventus in a clash of the titans while Swiss upstarts Thun continue their adventure with a trip to Ajax Amsterdam.
Ten years ago Ajax were champions of Europe while Thun were an amateur side playing in the Swiss third division.
However, they meet on level terms in the Amsterdam Arena today with the Swiss side enjoying life at the top.
They lost only to an injury-time goal at Arsenal on their Champions League debut before beating Sparta Prague last time out, while Ajax have just one point in Group B from a draw in Prague and are struggling in the Dutch league.
"It's hard to make direct comparisons between Ajax and Sparta Prague but I do believe that if we perform at our best we can come away with at least a point," said Thun coach Urs Schoenenberger.
Thun warmed up with a 5-1 win over St. Gallen but Ajax's trouble in front of goal was there for all to see as they struggled to a goalless home draw with Heracles Almelo.
Juve and Bayern already seem safe after two wins each in a predictable-looking Group A and with a draw suiting both sides, today's Munich clash is unlikely to be a goalfest.
HOT FORM
Juve are nonetheless in hot form having also won their first seven Serie A games and did beat Bayern home and away at the same stage last season.
Rapid Vienna host Club Bruges in the group's other game.
Liverpool are struggling to find the form that swept them to the title last season and will have to work hard to collect maximum points from their Group G game at Anderlecht, who have lost both matches to date.
Liverpool have four points, as do Chelsea, who are setting the pace at the top of the Premier League pace after nine successive wins.
The Londoners, who thumped Bolton Wanderers 5-1 on Saturday, are at home to Real Betis.
Olympique Lyon will hope to make it three wins out of three when they host Olympiakos Piraeus in Group F. Real Madrid, beaten 3-0 by the French team in their opening game, are at home to Rosenborg Trondheim in the same group.
RONALDO OUT
The nine time champions warmed up with a 3-0 win over city rivals Atletico but Ronaldo, who scored twice, twisted an ankle and is out for a month.
Inter Milan are another side eyeing a maximum nine points as they travel to 2004 winners Porto.
Inter thrashed Livorno 5-0 on Sunday while Porto lost at home to Benfica for the first time in 14 years - though they remain top in Portugal.
Artmedia Bratislava, who pulled off a stunning 3-2 win at Porto in the last round of fixtures, will look to build on that success at Rangers.
AC Milan take on PSV Eindhoven in a Group E repeat of last season's semi-final which the Dutch were unlucky to lose.
Milan lead the group with four points while PSV have three. Fenerbahce, also on three points, host Schalke 04.
Barcelona travel to Panathinaikos expecting to make it three wins out of three in Group C, where Udinese host new Bundesliga leaders Werder Bremen.
Group D leaders Manchester United are at home to Lille with Benfica visiting Villarreal.
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