Henry leaves Arsenal for Barcelona

[osarusan]

From the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6231950.stm).

That is the end of Arsenal this season, before the season even begins, in my opinion.

I wonder how Barcelona will fit Henry into their system. I know he is a world class player, but they are not short of talent in Barcelona, and dont have a problem scoring goals. 2nd in the league and Euro champions 2 years ago suggests they are a very strong team, will Henry upset the balance of the team?

[CollegeTillIDie]

Well Samuel Eto'o wants out ... or will that change if Rijkaard gets his P45?
Wenger is being liked with Barca too. So perhaps Arsenal will return to the ranks of also rans next season too.

[osarusan]

So perhaps Arsenal will return to the ranks of also rans next season too.

Actually, I think that is what will happen, if Wenger leaves.

(Thanks Pete)

[CollegeTillIDie]

On the other hand if Wenger stays at Arsenal longer term he may yet rebuild another great side.

[Dodge]

Its more likely Ronaldinho will leave than Eto'o

I always though Henry was a tad over rated but I think I'm the only one

[gustavo]

Arsenal have a lot of good youngsters coming through but Henry is a big loss , However if they can buy one good striker I can still see them making the top 4

[superfrank]

Henry only played 17 league games last season and, from what I'd seen, he wasn't the best captain. They've lost a great talent but this won't be as big a loss as losing Viera, imo. After all, they still have Fabregas and Touré.

[Dodge]

Viera was replaced by Fabregas. Henry needs to be replaced

And by mentioning he only played 17 times you've answered why they had a relatively poor season

[gustavo]

If they sign Tevez it would go down as not being a bad deal , Wenger always knows when to sell at the right time , E.G selling Vieira , selling Anelka for 23 million and getting in Henry for 11 , selling Overmars for 25 million and getting in Pires for 7 , selling Silvinho and bringing in Cole , so I think he can do it again

[DmanDmythDledge]

I don't think Arsenal will sign a replacement for Henry. They have plenty of options upfront and I think Wenger will place his trust in the young players, as he has done so in the past.

[Dodge]

They have plenty of options upfront


Who ?

[shakermaker1982]

Henry was/is a world class player but he had hardly played for the gunners this season and was always moaning about something. Maybe his powers are on the wane? Who knows.

That 18 million can be spent on 2/3 imports who are young and fresh. Tevez at 15 million would be a good option also.

[gustavo]

Who ?

Van Persie , Adebayor , Bendtner , thats about it really!
Walcott and Vela at at stretch but they probably do need a Tevez in there

[CollegeTillIDie]

Being linked in today's English papers with a bid to bring Anelka back for 11 million quid. Given they sold him to Real Madrid for 23 Million they're sure to be ahead on the deal.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Being linked in today's English papers with a bid to bring Anelka back for 11 million quid. Given they sold him to Real Madrid for 23 Million they're sure to be ahead on the deal.

I wonder if Anelkas pre-match superstitious routines involve checking to see what side he's playing for?

[Poor Student]

Van Persie , Adebayor , Bendtner , thats about it really!
Walcott and Vela at at stretch but they probably do need a Tevez in there

Isn't Reyes on the way back? Before he scored the title winning double it was certain that neither Baptista or Reyes would be making the permenant switch in either direction.

Dodge, in reponse to your feeling that he's overrated a tad it won't surprise you to hear I disagree. I didn't see much of him this season, obviously partly due to his injury problems, but he's a player who has always impressed me greatly. He's a tremendous finisher who had the ability to carve out his own chances with his lightening pace and trickey but he also had another dimension to his game in terms of creating goals. Henry would often drift into the wide channels pulling players with him and then cutting inside or crossing to set up goals. More than likely he was so good at this due to his earlier position as winger. His movement always dragged opposing players all over the place. He was Henrik Larssoneque in that he created as many as he scored.

I feel he's stagnated at Arsenal over the last couple of years and it's time for both sides to part company. I don't know if he can ever recapture his form from a couple of years back but I don't think he was going to do it at Arsenal. I think Arsenal will also benefit from the end of this several year transfer saga just like Vieira. Life goes on, as has been pointed out Arsenal have replaced and recovered from losing big players before.

[superfrank]

Viera was replaced by Fabregas. Henry needs to be replaced

And by mentioning he only played 17 times you've answered why they had a relatively poor season
He does need to be replaced. I don't know who they'd bring in but I'd imagine Wenger has his eye on someone and we all know what his siignings are like.

Finishing fourth wasn't that bad. Realistically the best they could've hoped for was third last year and I think it will be the same for the next few years, especially now that Liverpool will have money to spend.

[Risteard]

I think Barca would be better off holding onto the strikers that were on the bench last season.
What they really need is an Essien-type player to take Edmilsons place.
I'd expect Henry to start now though.
Would be disasterous to turn Messi and Ronaldinho into orthodox wingers imo if that's what they're thinking.

[Sheridan]

I don't think Henry has the temperament to succeed in Spain, particularly as he's going to be second or third banana. Milan's poaching of Suazo from Cagliari (under Inter's noses) indicates that they haven't managed to coax Ronaldinho or Eto'o away.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Van Persie , Adebayor , Bendtner , thats about it really!
Walcott and Vela at at stretch but they probably do need a Tevez in there


He does need to be replaced. I don't know who they'd bring in but I'd imagine Wenger has his eye on someone and we all know what his siignings are like.
I don't think they do. Van Persie hasn't been used regularly since he was signed and he will take Henry's place in the team. Wenger rarely buys players like Tevez and I'm sure he will place his trust in the young players he has.


Isn't Reyes on the way back? Before he scored the title winning double it was certain that neither Baptista or Reyes would be making the permenant switch in either direction.
Reyes was unhappy at Arsenal when he left for Real and didn't leave on the best of terms. 3 Spanish clubs are after him and if one of them match Arsenal's asking price he's gone.