Arsenal FC

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• Manager:Arsene Wenger

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France blamed over Henry

14 Mar 2007 - 07:34:50

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has pointed the finger of blame at the France national team over Thierry Henry's season-ending stomach and groin injuries.

Henry will not play again until next season after aggravating the problems in last week's Champions League exit at the hands of PSV Eindhoven.

But Wenger believes his captain has been "badly managed" by France and blames his compatriots in charge of the national side for his captain's injury-ravaged campaign.

"He is paying the price of success," claimed Wenger. "I feel he has been badly managed after the World Cup by the French football team.

"I take responsibility for all the rest, but not for what I have not done.

"After the World Cup final on July 9, I gave him a holiday until August 4.

"Then he came back, we prepared him, I left him out of the Champions League qualifier in Zagreb, they (France) called him up for the game on August 16 which was less than 14 days after he came back and they played him in the whole game against Bosnia. It was a friendly.

"After he had played in the World Cup final, why do they need to play him in the whole game?

"After that he played for us the whole game of the game against Aston Villa as we were desperate to win the first game at the Emirates.

"Then after that they (France) called him up again, and he has played every friendly since when he was already on his knees."