Wenger ponders Henry, Robin linkup

Henry proved his enduring class by grabbing a late winner against Leeds on his second debut for Arsenal in an FA Cup third-round match on Monday.
It extended Henry’s club-record tally to 227 goals and with the 34-year-old striker potentially featuring in up to eight matches in his loan spell at the Emirates stadium, there are positive vibes swirling around Arsenal at the moment.
With 35 goals in an extraordinary 2011, Van Persie has taken over Henry’s mantle as Arsenal’s talismanic forward and Wenger now has to decide whether the pair can work in tandem to lift the team back into the Champions League positions.
Arsenal head into the weekend in fifth spot, a point behind fourth-place Chelsea and 12 adrift of leaders Manchester City.
“We obviously don’t want to be out of the top four,” said Henry, who is third in the all-time list of Premier League scorers with 174 goals. “There’s going to be a hell of a competition this year to be in it.
“But I do think this team has what it takes to be in it. The team is slowly getting into form.”
Rested for the 1-0 victory over Leeds, Van Persie – the league’s top scorer this season with 17 goals – will return against Swansea.
“Thierry can play behind or in front of Robin or on the flank. Robin can play on the flank too,” Wenger said. “I don’t know yet what I will do. They can play together, of course, and they did play together.”
The French coach has pressing problems in defense, with temporary right back Francis Coquelin limping off on Monday to join an injury list that already includes full backs Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson and centre back Thomas Vermaelen.
Laurent Koscielny, one of Wenger’s few fit defenders, was more concerned with talking up the returning Henry.
“In training, he runs everywhere,” the French defender said of his compatriot. “It’s like he is 20 years old.
“It’s thanks to players like him that we all improve. He is one of the greatest players to have played football and the squad needs to look up to him in the next two months to improve.”
After a short hiatus because of the FA Cup, the title race fires back into action with third-place Tottenham now level on points with Manchester United in hunt to chase down City, who have a three-point lead.
But City have lost three of four games in all competitions in January, including cup defeats to United and Liverpool in recent days.
“We have just played two difficult games,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “I knew this before, when I said that January will be an important month for us because we lose three or four important players.”
With both Yaya and Kolo Toure absent at the African Cup of Nations and captain Vincent Kompany suspended, City visit next-to-last Wigan on Monday.
Two days earlier, United are at home to another team in the drop zone, Bolton, as the reigning champions aim to build on their 3-2 victory over their neighbors in a thrilling FA Cup match win over City on Sunday.
Like Arsenal, United have called on a former star to plug a gap in its squad, with 37-year-old midfielder Paul Scholes coming out of retirement until the end of the season.
“All of us were hoping he would come back and I am sure a few of the older lads have been saying things to him about it,” said United defender Chris Smalling. “It does pep up the dressing room when you see a player of the caliber of Paul Scholes in there.”
Spurs beat Everton 2-0 on Wednesday to stay on course for an unlikely tilt at a first title since 1961 as they host Wolverhampton today.
Chelsea, who look the likeliest team to make up the gap to the top three, host Sunderland while Stoke attempt to hold up sixth-place Liverpool’s bid to climb into the top four.
Fixtures
Today (all games at 5pm): Aston Villa v Everton Villa Park; Blackburn v Fulham; Chelsea v Sunderland; Liverpool v Stoke; Man Utd v Bolton; Tottenham v Wolverhampton; West Brom v Norwich.
Tomorrow: Newcastle v QPR (3.30pm); Swansea v Arsenal (6pm).
Monday: Wigan v Man City (10pm). – Sapa-AP.