Double blow for Gunners

Henry injured his groin when on international duty with France and will not be back for the Gunners for another month.

Manager Arsène Wenger was already without goalkeeper Jens Lehman (suspended), Robin van Persie (suspended) and Philippe Senderos (back) before confirming the absence of the duo.

The club will be boosted, however, with the probable return of Swedish midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg and French winger Robert Pires.

"We've got a few injuries - Bergkamp, Henry, Gilberto and Senderos are out, but I feel we can cope," said Wenger.

"Freddie Ljungberg is available, Robert Pires is back, however I haven't decided whether to start him [Pires].

"Gilberto has had scans on his ankle and they look positive. At first we thought he could be out for 4-6 weeks, but there is a possibility of him playing on Sunday."

With Gilberto acting as the club's sole experienced central midfielder, following the summer depature of Patrick Vieira to Juventus, it will be the absence of the Brazilian that will most worry the French tactician.

Wenger will either recall Mathieu Flamini to partner Cesc Fabregas in the heart of midfield, or give a Champions League debut to summer signing Alexandre Song. The former Bastia starlet is only 17-years-old, but he made his Premiership debut in last Monday's 2-0 win over Everton.

But midfield is not the only problem for the misfiring Gunners, who will be without their three first choice strikers in the absence of Henry, Bergkamp and van Persie.

Wenger's men failed to get on the scoresheet against a resilient Hammers defence on Saturday, while their last two goals were both scored by defender Sol Campbell.

Jose Antonio Reyes is a certainty up front, although the 21-year-old Spaniard has only scored once this season. Wenger has hinted that he might play Freddie Ljungberg as a second striker on Tuesday, but he may also be tempted to give Dutch youngster Quincy Owusu-Abeyie a start against the club with whom he started his career.

There is also the option of playing 15 million euro summer signing Alexandre Hleb in the Bergkamp role, just behind lone-striker Reyes.

Manuel Almunia will be recalled between the posts as Lehman serves his second and last match ban, while Campbell will continue alongside Kolo Touré in defence after two successive clean sheets since his return.

The two sides met in the second group stage of the 2002/3 Champions League, drawing 0-0 at Ajax and 1-1 at Highbury. The Dutch team qualified for the quarter finals, finishing second in the group; Arsenal were knocked out after finishing third.