Henry drops Arsenal hint

[Catfish]

http://www.channel4.com/sport/french_football/nov28e.html
This obviously is vague, but it's still good news.

[Dave_M]

"Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has given an indication that he expects to still be playing for the North London club next season"

Well, he would still be under contract next season - so unless we sell him he will still be here. That doesn't mean he will have re-signed though :)

[Catfish]

"Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has given an indication that he expects to still be playing for the North London club next season"
Well, he would still be under contract next season - so unless we sell him he will still be here. That doesn't mean he will have re-signed though :)
I had a feeling that he was using careful language by stating his status with Arsenal in that manner.

[ScottyUS]

I believe he has a last year buy-out clause, though. He can go if he wants.

I'm of two minds on this:

One, he's broken and reached a lot of records this season. With Highbury going down, "moving on" is almost in the air.

On the other hand, he owes a lot to the club and he's too intelligent not to see that, especially with the international side. Moving and getting lost in the shuffle would be a major blush for him.

So, I edge to thinking that he's holding out in a captain's effort to light a fire under the lads. And no doubt relishing his waking funeral.

[Rick B]

I believe he has a last year buy-out clause, though. He can go if he wants.

I'm of two minds on this:

One, he's broken and reached a lot of records this season. With Highbury going down, "moving on" is almost in the air.

On the other hand, he owes a lot to the club and he's too intelligent not to see that, especially with the international side. Moving and getting lost in the shuffle would be a major blush for him.

So, I edge to thinking that he's holding out in a captain's effort to light a fire under the lads. And no doubt relishing his waking funeral.

You believe wrong. That doesn't happen over here. Plus Arsenal would never let that kind of clause be in a contract.

[HighburyGoon]

I believe he has a last year buy-out clause, though. He can go if he wants.

I'm of two minds on this:

One, he's broken and reached a lot of records this season. With Highbury going down, "moving on" is almost in the air.

On the other hand, he owes a lot to the club and he's too intelligent not to see that, especially with the international side. Moving and getting lost in the shuffle would be a major blush for him.

So, I edge to thinking that he's holding out in a captain's effort to light a fire under the lads. And no doubt relishing his waking funeral.


Holy sh!t, a post on BigSoccer by ScottyUS?!?!?!?!?! What's the world coming to?

[No1ArsenalFan]

Could I just ask. I hope i'm not being stupid here but how in the hell does this article suggest that Henry will be at Arsenal next season. It's just an article with Henry talking about Highbury and the new stadium how in the world does that link to him suggesting he's gonna be with us next season. It doesn't.

Bloody Media

No1ArsenalFan

[jwaldman11]

You believe wrong. That doesn't happen over here. Plus Arsenal would never let that kind of clause be in a contract.
Evidently, Channel 4 believes the same thing:

Despite his obvious enthusiasm, however, the 28-year-old has refused to discuss a possible new contract until the end of the season, when he would be free to buy out the last year of his present deal and head for the exit.

[jwaldman11]

Could I just ask. I hope i'm not being stupid here but how in the hell does this article suggest that Henry will be at Arsenal next season. It's just an article with Henry talking about Highbury and the new stadium how in the world does that link to him suggesting he's gonna be with us next season. It doesn't.

Bloody Media

No1ArsenalFan
Welcome to the world of the European media, where they'll ask a player "Wouldn't it be fun to play with Ronaldinho?", a player would say "I suppose it would be" and the headline the following day would scream "PLAYER ON HIS WAY TO BARCELONA!"

[ZonaGunner]

On the other hand, he owes a lot to the club and he's too intelligent not to see that, especially with the international side. Moving and getting lost in the shuffle would be a major blush for him.
I've seen several people talk about how he should stay because he owes the club so much. I would truly hate to see him go and hope he will be playing for Arsenal for many years, but I really don't get how he owes the club so much. I mean it's not like he hasn't carried this team to who knows how many wins in recent seasons while on his way to scoring more goals for the club than anybody has. Sure the club has done a lot for him and his career, but I think he in turn has done a whale of a lot for the club. Again, I sure hope he doesn't go, but this whole indebted to the club thing doesn't ring true to me as a reason why he wouldn't go. More like maybe he realizes he's got a good thing going and he really likes playing at Arsenal and he just became captain and stuff like that that may keep him with Arsenal, at least IMHO.

[deaner1971]

You believe wrong. That doesn't happen over here. Plus Arsenal would never let that kind of clause be in a contract.

I don't think it is in his contract, for some reason I was thinking that this new feature of the world of contracts came courtesy of a ruling by the EU courts. Does this ring a bell with anyone or am I talking out of my Mourinho?

[Dave_M]

I don't think it is in his contract, for some reason I was thinking that this new feature of the world of contracts came courtesy of a ruling by the EU courts. Does this ring a bell with anyone or am I talking out of my Mourinho?


I have no idea but if thats true id be inclined to sell him in the January Transfer Window and cahs in rather that let him go for cheap, or worse, free.

[surfcam]

I've seen several people talk about how he should stay because he owes the club so much. I would truly hate to see him go and hope he will be playing for Arsenal for many years, but I really don't get how he owes the club so much. I mean it's not like he hasn't carried this team to who knows how many wins in recent seasons while on his way to scoring more goals for the club than anybody has. Sure the club has done a lot for him and his career, but I think he in turn has done a whale of a lot for the club. Again, I sure hope he doesn't go, but this whole indebted to the club thing doesn't ring true to me as a reason why he wouldn't go. More like maybe he realizes he's got a good thing going and he really likes playing at Arsenal and he just became captain and stuff like that that may keep him with Arsenal, at least IMHO.

Yep.

[ScottyUS]

You believe wrong. That doesn't happen over here. Plus Arsenal would never let that kind of clause be in a contract.

Right you are. I was getting confused with the possibility of his leaving in summer 2006 in order to receive a fee. Point I was trying to make, I guess, is that if he's going to leave, its unlikely to me that he would do it in the summer of 2007.

[ScottyUS]

Evidently, Channel 4 believes the same thing:


Thought I'd heard it somewhere.

[ScottyUS]

Holy sh!t, a post on BigSoccer by ScottyUS?!?!?!?!?! What's the world coming to?


Cheers, HighburyGoon. :)

[ScottyUS]

Could I just ask. I hope i'm not being stupid here but how in the hell does this article suggest that Henry will be at Arsenal next season. It's just an article with Henry talking about Highbury and the new stadium how in the world does that link to him suggesting he's gonna be with us next season. It doesn't.

Bloody Media

No1ArsenalFan

For those of us desperate for any inkling that he'll stay, if you read what he said closely he says its a shame "we" have to move. Now, that could mean he plans on seeing out his contract for his last season, or that he's on board with the changes.

Caring about the future of the club seems a good sign.

[ScottyUS]

I've seen several people talk about how he should stay because he owes the club so much. I would truly hate to see him go and hope he will be playing for Arsenal for many years, but I really don't get how he owes the club so much. I mean it's not like he hasn't carried this team to who knows how many wins in recent seasons while on his way to scoring more goals for the club than anybody has. Sure the club has done a lot for him and his career, but I think he in turn has done a whale of a lot for the club. Again, I sure hope he doesn't go, but this whole indebted to the club thing doesn't ring true to me as a reason why he wouldn't go. More like maybe he realizes he's got a good thing going and he really likes playing at Arsenal and he just became captain and stuff like that that may keep him with Arsenal, at least IMHO.


I do see it as mutual, as well. But I think where Wenger's coming from in this instance and what I think, too, is that Henry has been given certain freedoms and been allowed to flourish under our system. And god knows what other perks.

[Rick B]

Right you are. I was getting confused with the possibility of his leaving in summer 2006 in order to receive a fee. Point I was trying to make, I guess, is that if he's going to leave, its unlikely to me that he would do it in the summer of 2007.

That I agree with. There is no way Arsenal will let him enter the last year of his contract without signing a new one or getting a fee for him. Personally I think he will be sold in the summer. I wish him well and certainly wouldn't begrudge him a move to Barca as he has done so much for us. We will find another strike force.

[Bighorn]

The thought of losing him just makes me sick to my stomach. I really believe that the added cash flow from the new stadium has to be used to keep Henry.

If it isn't, I'm really not sure what's of the purpose of building it.

.....and don't take that literally, I do know why they'd not reinvest it in the squad, but I surely hope that isn't the case.