Henry casts shadow over Arsenal start

A string of absentees led by striker Thierry Henry and the fallout from their latest domestic defeat will haunt Arsenal in Wednesday’s 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 Middlesbrough.

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 Group B tie suddenly starts to look like a banana skin for the once all-conquering side.