Arsenal skipper Henry 'devastated' by injury

Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry is 'devastated' after being ruled out for the rest of the season.

The 29-year-old suffered injuries to his groin and stomach muscles as the Gunners bowed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night.

But he is vowing to bounce back from his setback next season and has been quoted as saying: "This setback will make me even more determined, yet it has certainly been one thing after another.

"I am obviously devastated. I will miss the rest of the season. It is a tough end to what has been a difficult season for me. It has been very frustrating. But I hope to get back to full fitness soon and will then look forward to having a great season with Arsenal next year."

Manager Arsene Wenger admitted going into the second leg of Arsenal's clash with PSV Eindhoven that his gamble on Henry's fitness could backfire badly following the best part of two weeks out.

And so it proved as Henry limped off at the final whistle at Ashburton Grove, but Wenger believes that Arsenal's all-time record scorer will return stronger from his time on the sidelines.

The Gunners boss said: "Thierry Henry will be out for a minimum of three months. Unfortunately this means he will now miss the rest of this season both domestically and internationally - but we are confident that he will be ready for the start of next season."

Henry has only showed flashes of his genius during a stop-start season as the over-exertion of the last campaign, which ended at the World Cup final, returned to haunt him.

But he is determined to get back to his best, telling reporters: "Last season was a very long one for me, right up to the Champions League final and then the World Cup final with France.

"I only had a few weeks' break and then the Premiership started. First of all, there was the sciatic nerve problem, which kept me out for a while. Then, most recently of all, the foot injury. Now these injuries against PSV."

Wenger added: "Any player will tell you it is not nice sitting in the stands watching our team play. You would always rather be out there on the pitch.

"But, hopefully, our young team can enjoy a good end to the season. People must remember, most of them are still young and they have to be given time."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.