Arselona's Henry comes out fighting

by CARL ELDRIDGE Arsenal’s ambassador in Spain has come out fighting this morning with a morale-boosting rallying call for the beleaguered Gunners.

With Manu Adebayor gone and many of the papers suggesting Kolo Toure’s move to Manchester City is also a done deal, Arselona’s Thierry Henry came out fighting in defence of Arsene Wenger and managed a thoroughly well-placed dig on Harry Redknapp’s ever-twitchy chin.

Haringey Joke Shop manager Redknapp has been banging on and on about how Henry advised him to snap up Highbury legend Paddy Vieira even though it would leave two sets of supporters disgruntled.
But Henry has dismissed those claims and reaffirmed his love for the Arse — and reckons we can win the title this time of asking.

Henry told the Sun: “I am Arsenal through and through. I’d never advise anyone to sign for Tottenham.
“Patrick Vieira is a grown man who will do whatever he has to do for his own career. But I have never advised anyone about their future because it’s not my business.

“I can’t have Arsenal fans thinking I am helping Tottenham in any way. The truth is I was talking to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp and he told me he was trying to sign Patrick from Inter Milan. I was very surprised because Patrick is like me. He loves Arsenal. I just said that Patrick would be a brilliant signing. But I also made it clear I would be shocked if it happened.”

On our, er, title charge, Henry tells the paper: “I know the way Arsene Wenger thinks and he will not go into the new season with ambitions to finish in the top four again.
“His only target will be to win the Premier League. And despite all that has happened at Arsenal this year, I still believe they have enough quality to do that. It is difficult for me to talk about Arsenal. Whenever I do, it is always with my heart, not my head.

“They are going to miss Adebayor for sure. He is a good player and he scored some important goals for the team. So it is going to be a difficult task for Arsenal this time and it is vital that everyone keeps the faith.

“The reason I say that is because the boss still has great faith in his players and if there is one man who Arsenal can trust to do the right thing, it’s Arsene Wenger. He is the man who has put Arsenal on to the European map. Nobody else could have achieved what he has done there.

“The fans should remember that and give him more credit. Some people gave him a hard time last season and he didn’t deserve that. I know how those supporters feel. Like them, I am Arsenal through and through and we all suffer when the team doesn’t win anything.

“Everyone wants immediate success and after four seasons without a trophy, Arsenal supporters have become impatient. All I can say to them right now is to have faith in Arsene and know that the first trophy in five years will be more enjoyable than ever.”

I am convinced that man was born on the Clock End and has the entire lyrics of She Wore A Yelow Ribbon tattooed on his torso!

In other news, the papers are convinced Toure is off to Eastlands and the Daily Mail suggest a deal has been struck with a £15m transfer fee. It claims: “The 28-year-old has agreed personal terms of around £120,000 per week — doubling his wages at Arsenal. He is expected to be unveiled later this week and could even figure in Saturday’s friendly at Barnsley.”

Oh, the joys.

The Guardian begs to differ and reckon a deal is still being worked out but that City are in “advanced talks” with Arsenal over signing Toure, while the Times hedge their best and state that the Ivory Coast defender is “on the verge” of joining Manchester’s big spenders

The Mirror won’t commit to Toure actually being a City player just yet but claim City boss Mark Hughes is “confident” of signing the defensive lynchpin for £14million but his wages will be a £90,000-a-week.

Of course, speculation is rife on a possible replacement and the Mirror assert that AW will use the Toure cash to “pursue Fulham’s Brede Hangeland”.

In passing various papers carry small mentions of Arsenal beating Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas 5-0 last night.

For the record, Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner each bagged a double. Robin van Persie chipped in with a penalty.

Next up, Hannover on Wednesday night.

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