THIERRY HENRY has told Mikel Arteta injuries are NOT an excuse and Arsenal “must” win the Premier League this year.
The Gunners last lifted the title when striker Henry played in their historic Invincibles season of 2003-04.
Arteta’s table-toppers are two points clear of Manchester City heading into the busy festive period.
But they have been hit hard by injuries, with defender Ben White the latest star to be crocked.
And Arsenal legend Henry, 48, said: “Injuries, the busy calendar — let’s not talk. Everybody has their own problems.
“Let’s see who’s going to be there at the end. I won’t change my tune from the beginning of the season — we must win the league.
“It has to be this year. I believe the team can do it and I just hope we can cross that line.
“You will see in a season the team’s going to be tested, injuries are going to happen and things are not going to go your way.
“It’s how you go through that.”
White, 28, limped off with a hamstring injury after half an hour of Saturday’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Wolves.
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He now faces at least a month on the sidelines.
The right-back joins a lengthy casualty list which includes Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Cristhian Mosquera, while William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus have all missed a number of games.
Arsenal travel to Everton tomorrow to start a hectic 19-day schedule.
On Tuesday, they host Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and then have Premier League clashes against Brighton, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Liverpool up until Thursday, January 8.
In eight years at the Gunners Henry won two Prem titles, three FA Cups and four Golden Boots — including three on the bounce from 2004-06.
The 1998 World Cup winner is also Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals.
And the French icon told Betway: “When you enter Christmas up until the end of February, you usually get a clearer view of what’s going to happen.
“And then you can be a bit more vocal about who can win the league or not.
“We’ve seen things can happen down to the last day, so don’t be over- excited when you win games, don’t be overexcited when you lose them. It’s a long, long road.”
Henry was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
He said: “I would not have been able to do this without playing with great players in great teams and great coaches.
“Thank you to everyone that believed in me and also the ones who didn’t.”
