Arsenal to take chance on Henry

Talismanic striker Thierry Henry is on the verge of a much awaited return to first-team action for Arsenal FC on Tuesday who will be hoping to start the new year with intent on another night of Premiership action in England.

Henry hope
Last season's UEFA Champions League runners-up welcome Charlton Athletic FC to north London with their French captain in line for a recall after five weeks out with a sciatic nerve problem. Henry, who has scored six goals in 12 league appearances this season, last featured for the Gunners on 29 November in their 2-1 defeat by Fulham FC.

Injury list
Henry may be rushed back into the side by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger because of a growing injury list that includes Emmanuel Adebayor, Theo Walcott, Fredrik Ljungberg, Johan Djourou and Willam Gallas. Robin van Persie and Julio Baptista are also doubtful as Arsenal look to bounce back from their 1-0 loss at Sheffield United FC on Saturday.

Relegation battle
Arsenal can go fourth with victory but for their opponents matters of a very different kind are at stake with Charlton hoping to pick up their second win in four days and three points that would lift them above West Ham United FC into 18th and just three points behind Wigan Athletic FC outside the relegation zone. The south Londoners will be without their own influential forward, Darren Bent, with a knee injury however.

Title chase
Bent was on target in Charlton's morale-boosting 2-1 win on Saturday against a Aston Villa FC side that will be looking to spoil champions Chelsea FC hopes of closing the gap on leaders Manchester United FC to four points in the evening's other match. United could only manage a point from their visit to Newcastle United FC last night, leaving the door open for Chelsea to reignite their title bid following successive draws.

Boulahrouz back
José Mourinho is still without inspirational captain John Terry, Arjen Robben and, because of suspension, Michael Ballack but is boosted by the return of Khalid Boulahrouz after a ban that ruled him out of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Fulham FC. Home side Villa, meanwhile, will be aiming to end a run of nine winless games but will have to do so without in-form Gareth Barry following his dismissal at the weekend.