Aston Villa keeper Shay Given insists he holds no grudges against Thierry Henry as he prepares to face the striker once more.

The France forward sparked controversy when his infamous handball denied Republic of Ireland a place in the 2010 World Cup.

Ireland keeper Given is set to face the Arsenal veteran for the first time since the incident on Sunday when Villa travel to the Emirates to face the Gunners in the FA Cup fourth round.

But Given does not regard Henry as a cheat and says the handball is now water under the bridge.

He told The Sun: "I think some really harsh stuff has been written about him but I don't follow that line of thought (that he is a cheat).

"He handballed it and players do that sometimes. His was quite a blatant one and he probably thought himself that the referees would pick it up. But I don't blame him.

"In a sense it wasn't even Thierry Henry's fault, it was the officials who never saw it.

"I know he handballed it but it was so blatant we felt the officials should have picked it up, yet they didn't.

"Of course it was disappointing, especially all through the summer when the World Cup was on.

"It was disappointing to think we could, should have been there probably.

"But it's water under the bridge now. It was hard at the time for the players and the Ireland fans. But you move on in football and you move on in life.

"I certainly do not hold grudges. I just want to keep Thierry Henry quiet on Sunday for Aston Villa's sake - not for what he did two years ago."

Given was back-up for Joe Hart when then club Manchester City won the FA Cup last season and he would love to win the silverware with new side Villa, who go into the tie on a high after beating Wolves 3-2 last time.

He added: "I suppose I have done it back to front - celebrating with the cup before I'd actually played in a cup-winning team at Wembley.

"Now I'd love to win it with Aston Villa - that would undoubtedly be the pinnacle of my club career.

"Even growing up as a kid I was diving around the garden pretending it was Wembley. It would be a shame if it went the same way as the League Cup, where some teams play lesser squads and save themselves for the Premier League.

"I understand we're 5-1 at the Emirates and I think we're worth a fiver!

"Arsenal's home advantage makes them favourites but they've been struggling in recent weeks.

"Although we may not have the biggest squad in the league, when everyone's fit we have a real top team. We had a great win at Wolves last week and our tails are up. We're going there with no fear and a lot of belief.

"If we can get through against Arsenal anything is possible."