Wenger rejects Henry transfer reports

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger today rejected reports from Spain his captain Thierry Henry had agreed to join Barcelona next season.

The 28-year-old World Cup winner has declared his desire to remain in north London, but as yet no new contract has been formally agreed.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is a keen admirer of Henry, although the club themselves have officially refuse to comment on the possibility of striker
moving to the Nou Camp in what would most have to be a world-record deal.

That stance, however, has not stopped the issue being debated in the press,
both here and in Spain.

However, Wenger declared: "I do not believe there is any truth in that
because I cannot imagine that Thierry would do that.

"Secondly, do not forget that Thierry is under contract until 2007, so
anything agreed without us being involved can only be invented because it cannot be true.

"After that there is a game going on between the Spanish press and English
press.

"The Spanish press brings something out that is not true and the English
press answers that, and the same on the other side.

Wenger now accepts such speculation is all part and parcel of the European
game.

“I cannot stop any noises or transfer rumours,” the Arsenal boss said.

“I tried for a while and I could not do it, so there are a few solutions.

"Either Thierry extends his contract now or does it at the end of the season,
or I do not know what his intention really is to do.

"I believe he will stay with us, but for me the most important at the moment
is that he is focused on doing well with the team and I am convinced he does
that because his answer on the pitch."

A key issue is reported to be whether the Gunners can show Henry they are
willing to match his own sporting ambition, and a move to the new 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium certainly a step in the right direction.

Arsenal are currently facing a real battle to secure Champions League football again next season.

They host Charlton tomorrow looking to keep the pressure on fourth-placed
Tottenham, while Juventus await them in the quarter-finals of Europe's top
competition.

Wenger, however, understood there were more than just pure footballing matters for Henry to consider.

"Certainly a player like Thierry Henry will want to play Champions League,
but there is more at stake than that — than one year in the Champions League," the Arsenal boss said.

"It is 'do I want to finish my career at the club?' And to be a player who
has dedicated his career, his sports life basically, to one club or not?"

Wenger added: “I can understand every player has a choice to make, but at the end of the day we are judged not on what we do in four months but what we do today and tomorrow.