Wenger fury at FA over fixture list

Arsene Wenger is preparing to go into tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United without Thierry Henry as he tries to manage resources for a fixture schedule he privately described as "a disgrace''.

A senior Arsenal figure said the manager was furious at the Premier League forcing them to play their four strongest opponents in eight days. After Saturday's semi-final, Arsenal play Chelsea in the Champions' League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, then Liverpool on Easter Friday and Newcastle, away, on Easter Sunday.

"Arsène can't believe it. He thinks it's ridiculous," said the Highbury official. "We're bending over backwards to try to help people and no one is helping us."