Henry’s off to Barcelona or Inter Milan

Thierry Henry will move to Barcelona or Inter Milan, understandably, because he is unsettled after David Dein left the club. Barcelona will be a good choice for him because he rejected their advances last season, after they’d finished a fantastic season. He might well go to Inter though because they have Patrick Vieira. Or not.

Speculation on Henry’s future at the club seemed to explode today all because Henry commented on how our season went. Bare in mind first of all that he was probably asked his thoughts and more worrying would have been had he said it was a successful season that he was happy with. It wasn’t. And I’m sure he’s more than eager to return to the squad and aid in tabling a title challenge for next season. Doesn’t mean he wants to go. For further proof in an interview published in Q magazine, upon being asked to promise he’ll stay at Arsenal, Thierry had this to say:

‘I did think about leaving last season, I’ve made no secret of that. If Barcelona come in, you’re going to listen. But the love I have for Arsenal, the relationship I have with the fans and with Arsene Wenger, meant I couldn’t leave.’

‘People keep wondering if I am going to go. But there is no way I could leave now. I have grown to know what it means to wear an Arsenal shirt, and it is the most important thing of all. So let me say it to you once more: I’m not leaving. And being in London makes it even better, because London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. What more could you want than to play for a great club in a great city?’

Sounds like he’s happy, or maybe that’s just me. As I’ve said before, if he goes, it’ll probably be because Wenger wants him to go. What he said recently to the official club website seems to confirm that he doesn’t.

‘It is more down to imagination than anything else, Thierry Henry will be here next year.’ Asked whether he could guarantee Henry would remain at the Emirates next season, he added: ‘Yes, of course.’

I don’t deny clubs are interested. There might be some truth in that. Inter are ready to test our resolve with a  £15M bid, which I don’t think Wenger will find acceptable. More ludicrous is the suggestion that Barcelona are ready to offer us Samuel Eto’o on top of £17M. I mean, if they did, I’d bite their hands off. Eto’o is younger, a natural scorer of goals and a top prize. £17M on top of that’s pretty generous. Of course, it’s a wild imagination kicked into gear more than anything else. I can only see that he’ll be staying put. None of the reasons given to as why he’ll leave are any good and are countered with quotes of a manager and player who sound as if they’ve got the same intention and that’s Henry remaining an Arsenal player for next season and the foreseeable future.

• Carlos Vela, the promising Mexican who can’t play for us because he’s yet to get a work permit might be off on loan again to Spain, this time to Levante. That’s providing his work permit problems aren’t sorted in the summer. If he does go though, it’ll be a step up for him having enjoyed a spell last season at Salamanca in the Segunda Division, where he’s said to have impressed.
• Giorgos Efrem, of the Arsenal Reserves is reportedly off to Rangers after they beat off interest from other Cypriot and Greek clubs. His departure is probably to make way for new players in the reserves, meaning he wasn’t deemed good enough.
• We’re pondering a move for Saint-Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis, as are Chelsea and Tottenham, supposedly though I don’t see why we need another striker to add to the ranks.
• We’re also following the progress of Swedish whizkid Albin Ekdahl and again, so are Chelsea. He’s only 17 so if we are interested, he’s unlikely to be introduced in order to strengthen the first team but rather will find a home in the under-18’s and reserves squad for a few seasons.
• A change of agents means Franck Ribery now might sign for Real Madrid.
• Wenger’s planning an £8M bid for West Brom central defender Curtis Davies. If this is true, someone else in the position will likely to have to make may.
• Seven preseason fixtures have been confirmed, the highlights of which include the Emirates Cup where we’ll face Inter and Paris Saint-Germain as well as the news that we’ll be taking part in the Amsterdam Tournament, and will play both Lazio and Ajax. Other fixtures include an opener against Barnet and a trip to Austria where we’ll play out matches against Turkish team Genclerbirligi in Bad Waltersdorf before visiting Austrian side FC Red Bull Salzburg.
• Rosicky claims he’s ready to return from injury and hopes to do so by playing for Czech Republic on Saturday. Hopefully he won’t get injured during the game.
• On a final note, Justin Hoyte’s been selected in the Under-21 squad for the Under 21 European Championship.