Thierry Henry believes Arsene Wenger will stay at Arsenal next season, despite
speculation linking the Gunners boss with a move away from north London this
summer.
Henry was unveiled by Barcelona at a news conference at the Nou Camp yesterday
afternoon and paraded in front of 30,000 loyal fans at the club's stadium after
signing a four-year contract with the Catalans.
But despite sealing his dream move to Catalonia, Arsenal's all-time top
goalscorer said he will remain a fan of the Gunners and hopes that his mentor
will remain in charge of the Londoners for at least another year.
'Arsene is his own man, but I can only go with what he has said and he has
said that he is going to see out his contract (which lasts until summer 2008).
'I'd like him to stay and it's important for the club that he does because if
he also goes, it is going to be pretty difficult for the club. But only he can
tell you about that,' he said.
Henry revealed he maintains an excellent relationship with the coach he first
played under at Monaco, before their eight successful years together in the red
and white half of north London.
'My relationship with Arsene is out of this world and it won't change now
that I am here. I can talk to him about anything. Private stuff, anything. When
I decided I wanted to go we sat and down and we talked like big men. We respect
each other and our relationship goes beyond Arsenal,' he said.
Henry refused to go over the reasons for his departure, but said it was
difficult to leave Arsenal following eight happy years in London.
'I have said so many times why I left Arsenal, I don't want to go back to
that, but it was hard to leave. I always said that if I ever left Arsenal it
would be to play for Barcelona. That is no disrespect to anybody,' he said.
Henry's interest in the Catalan giants goes back a long way and the Frenchman
was full of admiration for his new employers yesterday.
'I saw the club from outside and loved to watch them. I hope to be part of a
football I love to watch, a beautiful game. It is a well-structured club,
extraordinary. All of these people are passionate about the club and give a big
part of their lives to make this club successful. I am happy to be a part of a
club like that,' he said.
The France striker looks set to line up in a star-studded Barca attack
alongside Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi next season, and says he
hopes the team can play 'amazing football'.
'I hope we see some amazing football and bring back silverware. I have
arrived here and I am going to give 100%. I will put the club before myself. The
most important thing is Barcelona,' he said.
Henry previously cited the departure of Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein in
April as his main reason for leaving the Gunners.
Dein and Henry developed a solid relationship after the Frenchman joined from
Juventus is 1999 and the former board member's son, Darren, was best man at the
player's wedding to model Nicole Merry in 2003.
Arsenal will receive 24 million euros (£16million) for the transfer of Henry,
which could rise to 25 if their former striker helps the Catalan giants regain
the Spanish title from bitter rivals Real Madrid next season.
Wenger's side have been linked to several high-profile replacements for Henry,
including Eto'o, Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres and their former French
forward Nicolas Anelka, currently at Bolton.
