Arsenal suffered a major blow when French striker Thierry Henry was ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Henry, the Premier League's top scorer, had suffered a recurrence of a long-standing Achilles problem, the club said on Monday.

Henry did not feature in Arsenal's final league game against Birmingham City on Sunday which they lost 2-1.

He had played 45 minutes in midweek after returning from a groin injury in the 7-0 thrashing of Everton.

Henry, scorer of 25 league goals, has had an exhausting season. He played every first team game for Arsenal -- excluding the League Cup -- until January when he was rested for the FA Cup third round match with Stoke City.

Arsenal have played in three of the last four FA Cup finals but Henry is yet to score in the showpiece occasion.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to play Jose Antonio Reyes up front in Cardiff with either Dennis Bergkamp or fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie.

The Cup final is the last chance for Arsenal and United to win a major trophy after Chelsea won the league title and the League Cup. 

(Agencies)