Arsenal [Images] manager Arsene Wenger hopes to discuss a new contract with Thierry Henry [Images] while the striker recovers from injury in the next six weeks.

He is confident the France [Images] forward will open negotiations with the Premier League club over his long-term future.

"Maybe yes, why not," Wenger said on Friday. "Maybe it is a good opportunity and we will certainly try to use it. He has now got two weeks' rest and we will send him away for 10 days."

The prolific Henry has been a key player at the north London [Images] club since signing from Juventus in 1999 after his emergence as one of the best strikers in the European game. Arsenal's captain is within one goal of Ian Wright's club record of 185.

Henry's contract runs out at the end of the 2006/07 season and Wenger is hopeful he will extend that for a number of years.

"I don't know if he will need persuading over signing a new deal," the Arsenal manager told reporters. "When you say to me a lot of persuading it means a mountain of money for me.

"Our intention is clear and I'm convinced he will stay here. But Thierry is not a money man. He's not a guy who's obsessed by money at all.

"It's more about him being committed to the club and showing that," he added.

Wenger is disturbed about why Henry has broken down so early in the season after the player described his groin injury as "serious" and said he won't be back until mid-October.

The Arsenal boss has again raised the club versus country debate after Henry played two games for France in four days and returned to the club with inflammation of the groin.

"At the moment I am more concerned about his injury than about his contract because to me it's a bit of concern that he had to stop so early in the season," he said.

"He worked so hard during pre-season and it raises the problem again of national teams and the clubs. The solution is to reduce the time they spend with the national teams and the latest they should play in midweek is on a Tuesday."

• Complete football coverage