THIERRY HENRY believes Arsenal would now be out of sight at the top of the Premier League if they hadn't lost Robin van Persie to injury.

The Gunners legend still kicks every ball from afar for his old club. And he is certain that the Dutchman's absence has cost them up to seven points this season.

Henry, who became Arsenal's record goalscorer by netting 174 goals for the club in eight seasons, remains confident Arsene Wenger's side can take the title in May.

And he predicted they would win the league even after they were comfortably beaten in successive games last month by Manchester United and Chelsea.

Arsenal are just three points off the lead having completed all their top-four duels.

They have also played Aston Villa twice and face winnable clashes against Hull, Wolves, Wigan, West Ham and Burnley in their run-in.

"I say honestly right now that I think Arsenal can win the league - and I thought that even before the start of the season," said Barcelona striker Henry.

"I would really like to have known what they could have done if they had a striker who could score 20 or more goals.

"If Robin van Persie had not got injured before Christmas, then who knows what might have happened?

"You would like to think that having him in your squad would give you an extra six or seven points.

"I still think they could become the first team, apart from Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, to win the league without a 20 or 30 goal-a-season striker.

"I thought even after the defeats against Manchester United and Chelsea recently that this team could win the Premier League.

"If you look at the table, they may only be third, but it looks like Arsenal have the easiest run of games left and hopefully the others teams around them can drop points.

"I know people like to read between the lines when you are not beating to so-called top four teams.But the table doesn't lie.

"If you are top of the league by the middle of May you deserve to be there."

Henry, who won the title with Arsenal in 2002 and 2004, believes bringing the Premier League trophy to the Emirates would be one in the eye for the critics who scoffed at Wenger's bold forecasts for his young squad last summer.

Henry could still face his former employers in the Champions League this season if the Gunners manage to overturn their 2-1 first-leg deficit at home to Porto this week.

The 32-year-old ace expects Wenger's team to achieve that. And he believes the French boss will laugh in the faces of those who have said his reign at Arsenal is nearing its end.

"To be where they are, with the games they have left, compared to the games the teams around them have to play, they are not in a bad position," said Henry.

"If Arsene managed to win a trophy this season with a squad so young it would be massive, particularly after the stick he got at the start of the season for saying he thought his team could achieve something."He has been criticised so often for saying his side could win a trophy - and who is laughing now?

"He wanted to do things his way and has shown he was not wrong.

"I know lots of people have a go at him over the lack of silverware but every year they are near the top.

"They have everything to go for in the second leg of the Champions League.

"I don't want to disrespect anyone but I see Arsenal being too strong for Porto."