Arsenal are planning to leave captain Thierry Henry out of their squad for next week's League Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff.

"Thierry will not be involved as it would not be fair to play the big players in the final," manager Arsene Wenger told British newspapers on Saturday.

"I will play the players who have played in the whole campaign. He (Henry) has known from the start he would not be involved in that competition."

Wenger has used this season's League Cup to blood his less experienced players.

"Youngsters like (teenage Brazilian midfielder) Denilson have played in the League Cup and learnt from it and gained experience," the French coach said.

"I say today he (Henry) will not play on February 25 but if we have three injuries he will play. You can never say never in our job."