Arsenal suffered a huge blow ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final with Manchester United as it was revealed leading scorer Thierry Henry will miss it because of an Achilles tendon injury.
The 27-year-old had only just returned to the first team after recovering from a groin injury, playing in last week's 7-0 humbling of Everton but aggravating an old Achilles injury in the process.
He missed their 2-1 defeat by Birmingham on Sunday and the injury will not heal in time for him to face United in Cardiff.
Both sides are going for their first trophy of the season having missed out on the Premiership to Chelsea and failing to make a mark on either the Champions League or League Cup.
Robin van Persie, Jose Antonio Reyes, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires have ensured a flurry of goals whenever Henry has been absent this season.
But the loss of Henry will nevertheless come as a blow, with Arsenal looking to end their recent dismal run in games against United.
The Gunners have lost their last four games against United with Alex Ferguson's side wrecking not only their double hopes last season, but also their long unbeaten run in the Barclays Premiership.
United beat Arsenal in last season's FA Cup final before ending their 49-game undefeated record in the league last October.
