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Henry to stay with Arsenal: Report
Thierry Henry dismissed speculation about a move to FC Barcelona by saying he will stay with Arsenal next season, according to an English tabloid.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:39 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
London:
Thierry Henry dismissed speculation about a move to FC Barcelona by saying he will stay with Arsenal next season, according to an English tabloid.
There has been months of speculation that the French striker might leave the Gunners after six seasons, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacted to questions on Friday by saying he was confident Henry wasn't secretly negotiating a move.
According to the Sun, Henry said he was staying.
"The truth is I love this club and I've made my mind up to stay,'' Henry was quoted as saying. "I can say to all my fans and the people who care about me I want to lead the team out in the new stadium.''
Arsenal is leaving 38,000-seat Highbury to move to a new, 60,000-capacity ground next term.
"We need to move on now. I'm staying here to build one of the best teams in Europe,'' Henry said.
"We need to be competitive. The club said it was up to me and now it's up to them. I've made my decision and I can't say more than that,'' he said.
Wenger said on Friday he was sure that Henry, the club's record goalscorer with 194, had not been trying to leave the club.
"I know Thierry Henry well enough. I know that he is straight and honest. He would never do that behind our backs,'' Wenger said.
"It is unfair to question his attitude and honesty towards the club. He is not allowed to talk to other clubs and he would never do that.''
Wenger said the club and the player had decided long ago they would wait until the end of the season before holding contract talks.
When we are ready and he is ready, a decision will be made,'' the Arsenal manager said. "I am not anxious. I know what I want here. I want Thierry to be a part of that and I will try my best to make it happen.''
Wenger, who will rest Henry for Saturday's FA Cup game against Cardiff, accepted the French star would look at all possibilities before signing a new deal.
Topics mentioned in this article
Football
Real Madrid
France
Arsenal
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