Arsenal go French once again

Arsenal replaced disruptive striker Nicolas Anelka with one of his closest friends yesterday as they clinched the £10 million signing of Thierry Henry. Manager Arsene Wenger proved his faith in young French talent had been undiminished by the fiasco of Anelka's move to Real Madrid as he captured 21-year-old Henry on a five-year contract.

Comparisons between the two players are inevitable, given that they are close friends, were born within 18 months of each other and represent the future of the French national team.

They even both have two brothers, although Henry revealed that his own siblings would by staying put in France - unlike Anelka's infamous brothers, who masterminded his transfer from Arsenal amid complaints of feeling homesick and lonely.

However, in direct contrast to Anelka, who is bound for Madrid in a Stg£23.5 million deal just two years after arriving at Highbury, Henry came across as a model professional.

Given the anguish that Anelka has just put the club through, vicechairman David Dein was certainly impressed to hear from the Frenchman that he was "proud" to be playing for Arsenal. Although he will not be taking a massive pay cut to join Arsenal, as fellow new recruit Davor Suker did in his move from Real Madrid on Monday, Henry will be on roughly the same wages as he was at Juventus - within the strict Highbury salary limit.

With Wenger interpreting for him, the French international told the second press conference at Highbury within the space of 24 hours: "Nicolas lives his life and I live mine. Even if we are friends, everyone has their choices to make. Personally I'm not convinced that he left London because he didn't love London. He told me that he did love London.

"I have no real plan to settle in England. I will just live normally, try to integrate into the team and try to live well. I am very happy and lucky to join a club like Arsenal. I have wanted to play for them for a long time. I know Arsene Wenger and he knows me. This is a great opportunity for me."

Wenger, who plans no further signings before the start of the season, managed Henry as a teenager at Monaco and attempted to sign him almost two years ago when he instead joined Juventus.

The Arsenal manager is convinced that the striker has the maturity and extrovert nature to ensure that he succeeds where Anelka failed in settling into the squad at Highbury.

Wenger insisted: "If you don't want to be compared with anybody then you stay at home. If you want to be a big player then you just have to show how strong you are on the field and to accept the comparison.

"I think Thierry has the qualities to do as well as Nicolas and it's up to him to show the strength of character and how good he is.

"He's more extrovert than Nicolas, they are different characters even if they are good friends. I personally think that Nicolas is a good guy as well but hasn't been helped a lot.

"We had to replace Nicolas Anelka but I would have gone for Thierry together with Nicolas. However, Juventus were quicker than us and Monaco were quicker to work it out with Juventus, I don't know why.

"He called me one hour before he was due to sign in the office of Juventus and it was too late to act. I advised him that he had no other choice but to sign."

Henry, who was France's top scorer during last year's World Cup success, also has experience of European football, having hit the target seven times for Monaco in their run to the Champions League semi-finals two years ago.

For the past three years, he has played as a winger but while he could be used on either flank by Arsenal if the need arises, Wenger sees him primarily as a pacy central striker with finishing skills that can be honed.

Indeed, arsenal can now approach the new season with refuelled confidence as Wenger can select from four top strikers - Henry, Suker, Kanu and Dennis Bergkamp.

"It doesn't cause problems, it gives you options. What gives you headaches is not having the players. We will give him a good opportunity to prove he is a great striker," declared the Arsenal boss.

"We have had a lot of downs this summer and finally a lot of ups. We go into a very important season with what we wanted and that is important for the confidence of the club."