Wenger puts faith in young Arsenal star

By European Football
April 16 2005

The injured Thierry Henry will be replaced by Jose Antonio Reyes for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn. Reyes has often expressed feelings of homesickness during his time at Highbury, but that does not worry his boss who announced:

"Reyes will play.”

“I feel it is a good opportunity for him to show how good he is."

"I feel Reyes was a target at some stage and he suffered from that,” he said. “It took him a while to get over it. He was always one of the players who could make a difference so he was even more of a target."

He then went on to talk about how he feels Reyes is beginning to settle since his €18m record signing.

“I feel he is slowly getting there. He seems fine with the squad. He is a happy boy on a daily basis."

“It always takes you time to adapt to the intense game of England but once you get used to it you miss it.”

“That is the vibe I got from all of the players who have left England. I remember after Petit or Overmars left when you speak to them about it they all miss the intense, passionate game you get in England every week."