Arsenal must be patient

Champions League: It was past midnight when a genial Thierry Henry addressed the supporters on Arsenal's charter flight back from Turin.

There was a flicker of sentimentality as the captain spoke of the desire to reach a Champions League final that would allow him to "go home". That game, on May 17th, would return him to his native Paris and to a particular stretch of turf that must feel like his backyard. Henry plays regularly for his national team at the Stade de France and there, too, he was part of the triumphant squad that raised the World Cup trophy to the heavens in 1998.

The Arsenal captain is ambivalent about the idea that his club is destined to triumph that day.

"The French are already saying it's going to be Arsenal's year because the final is in Paris," he reported, "but Juve also had a lot of French players and it is not their time. People can already see the story but we're not there yet."

Henry had difficulty suppressing his sentimentality over Paris for long and was soon thinking of two Arsenal youngsters who were among the substitutes against Juventus on Wednesday. "(Alexandre) Song and (Abou) Diaby really (grew up) just around the corner from the stadium," he said.

It is natural for Henry and everyone else at Highbury to feel the romance of football at the moment. Arsenal are unbeaten over seven games in all competitions, and the squad can probably envisage nothing better than being on the pitch. The character of the club's season, though, will depend on their ability to hang on to that feeling. Starting with Sunday's trip to Old Trafford, the fixture list is out to test the depth of the enthusiasm. Between now and May 7th, Arsenal play nine matches in the Premiership and Champions League.

Juventus manager Fabio Capello scowled when Arsene Wenger's team had a free weekend before the first leg of the quarter-final because of a waterlogged pitch at Fratton Park. It will be the Frenchman's turn to frown, though, when Arsenal go to Portsmouth for that rescheduled game on Wednesday.

Connoisseurs of doom could envisage sorrow creeping up on the side. After all, Arsenal might succumb to a burdensome programme, failing to win the Champions League or even to qualify for a return to the tournament next season.

In practice, though, they ought not to be short of form or vigour. Additional players are available to vary the line-up, with Ashley Cole close to a return from injury.

In addition, Sol Campbell is available, Robin van Persie should enjoy the occasional start and Emmanuel Adebayor can expect a heavy schedule in the Premiership since he is ineligible for the Champions League.

On top of keeping the squad fit, Arsenal have to preserve the attitude expressed by Freddie Ljungberg. "Maybe we will need to rotate," said the midfielder, "but with one-and-a-half months to the end, it's fun."

The jollity will be most at risk over the seven days that encompass the two matches with Villarreal and, between them, a game against Spurs that could have a particular bearing on who ultimately takes fourth place in the table.

So far as Champions League prospects are concerned, the Spanish team may pose a different and possibly more disturbing threat from that of Real Madrid or Juventus. Ljungberg, having been told that Villarreal play "nice football", is labouring under a misapprehension.

While Juan Roman Riquelme does indeed play delightful passes, the Spanish team are never cavalier. Since the Champions League group stage got under way, they have scored only eight goals and drawn six of their 10 fixtures. Two goalless matches with Villarreal were a major factor in Manchester United's early elimination from the tournament.

Villarreal have been uneasy only when their progress is taken for granted. In the qualifiers, a win at Goodison was followed by a contentious and referee-assisted victory at El Madrigal. Undeservedly or not, they might have been knocked out in the last 16 had Kris Boyd converted a late chance for Rangers in a tie that was settled on the away-goals rule. Villarreal are most confident when others are compelled to take the initiative and they can concentrate on reacting.

Villarreal, with their costive approach, are exactly the sort of team who get on the nerves of Wenger's team. Arsenal will require patience as well as stamina to negotiate the programme ahead.