Gary can breathe easy over Thierry

Arsenal physiotherapist Gary Lewin today described how he dealt with a distressed Thierry Henry as the Frenchman was left gasping for breath after being caught in the throat by Stephen Carr.

Henry collapsed behind the Tottenham goal during the second half and Lewin, who sprinted from the dugout, said: "You know straight away by the reaction of the player. Thierry was laying still and if a player is not moving, you know it is a problem.

"When I got to Thierry he couldn't breathe properly. He was sucking in air and anyone doing that is worried. People use the expression about someone 'swallowing their tongue' but that is impossible. It is a muscle that, when it goes into spasm, can block air going into the body.

"The first thing I had to do was to break that spasm. I had to calm him down. He was conscious all the way through and he got up again after the treatment.

"I put my fingers into his mouth and held the tongue down to make sure there was air going in. I was able to tilt his head slightly and then I started talking to him. I also flicked his ear and he flinched! You do that to make sure that he is fully conscious.

"Yes, it was dangerous. Any blow to the throat can be dangerous. The important thing is for me to stay calm because the person you are treating is often very worried and very anxious because of their struggling to breathe."

Meanwhile, Ray Parlour today pledged to stay and battle for his place. He said: "You get rumours every summer. But I have always wanted to battle and try to keep in the team."