The 19-year-old Brazilian has settled quickly following his move from Sao Paulo at the end of August, and is expected to start tonight's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Blackburn.

Henry will not play as he is currently resting a slight foot problem, but he is in no doubt that, with the likes of Denilson to step into the team, the future is bright for the Gunners.

"I have never seen in my years here a player who has developed so quickly to the English game as Denilson," the Arsenal captain declared.

"He comes from the Brazilian league where the game is much slower and to acclimatise this quickly is amazing - and especially to do this in the midfield, where in England there is always so much pressure, but he already seems to have so much time."

Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby are also sidelined through injury tonight, while combative midfielder Cesc Fabregas is set to be rested.

Add to that the suspension of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor along with knocks to full-back Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini, and manager Arsene Wenger would seem to have little option but to turn to his emerging players for cover.

The Gunners boss, however, has no qualms about continuing with a policy which has so far served him well in both domestic knockout competitions.

Henry agrees wholeheartedly. The striker said: "In every game, we show character and it does not matter who is playing.

"At Bolton I was not playing or Cesc, or Jens [Lehmann] or the lads who are injured - but it did not matter because we showed we have a collective character.

"This year in particular we have a really great squad. Whoever is in the team from this squad, you feel you are going to win. Whoever is in the team - I have no fear."

Wenger has "complete confidence" in the abilities of his young squad.

"What these boys have done against Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea on Sunday is not a coincidence," the Arsenal manager said.

"To repeat top-level performances is never that, and that is why I have complete confidence in them."

"Overall it is a very positive experience.

"This team produced some excellent football, some excellent entertainment and some excellent emotions even for people who are not Arsenal supporters.

"I would like to keep that as a very positive experience. For me they are now contenders for the first team and everybody who plays for the first team has a serious battle."

Given the fallout from the mass brawl which marred the Carling Cup final on Sunday - and resulted in both clubs being charged for failing to control their players as well as individual indictments for Adebayor and full-back Emmanuel Eboue, Wenger knows it will be good to let football take centre stage again.

"For us it is important just to win and to qualify to get positive vibes again after our disappointment on Sunday," said the Arsenal boss.

"The FA Cup is another opportunity for us to go to another final and win a trophy."