Henry in Spain to seal Barca move

Thierry Henry has arrived in Spain to put the finishing touches on his move from Arsenal to Barcelona.
Henry was met by club officials and will undergo a medical before being unveiled as a Barca player on Monday.

Barcelona have agreed a four-year deal with 29-year-old Henry and a fee thought to be about £16m with Arsenal.

"It is incredible. I am looking forward to playing in the Camp Nou and helping the team in every way I can," Henry told the Barcelona website.

"The most important thing that made me come [here] is the way Barca plays, the fans and the support they give. Without good fans it is difficult to have a good team and vice versa."

This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything

Thierry Henry

Barca vice-president Ferran Soriano insisted the Spanish club waited for the green light from Arsenal before making a move for a player he says had shown an interest in the Spanish club.

"This extraordinary player has expressed that he liked our club for months," Soriano told BC FIve Live.

"The actual deal was discussed on Friday and over the weekend. He landed here on Sunday and we are going to be finishing up everything on Monday."

Henry said his decision to leave Arsenal was due to the shock departure of Gunners vice-chairman David Dein and continuing doubts over the future of manager Arsene Wenger.

"Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember," Henry wrote in the Sun newspaper.

"Unfortunately and understandably, he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal, which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein."

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Do you think this is a good deal for Arsenal?

Henry, who has also been linked with European champions AC Milan, also revealed why he decided to move to the Nou Camp.

"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football. I'm sure I will be very happy there," he continued.

"But I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly, they have supported me through thick and thin.

"They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club."

Arsenal's 1971 League and FA Cup winning captain Frank McLintock was surprised Henry cited former vice-chairman Dein as a reason for leaving.

He said: "I can't see the relevance of David Dein's departure. I don't know how a player can get caught up with a director's departure and that making a difference to a player's performance.

"I'm sure he was a great ally to Arsene Wenger but I don't see how a player comes into contact with a director day after day.

"I've never heard such talk in my life before."

The Scot, however, was lavish in his praise of Henry's performances throughout his Arsenal career.

He added: "He's probably been the finest player Arsenal have ever had so you can't dismiss five or six great seasons that he gave us.

"I think the fans should leave with a warm feeling for Thierry Henry. He deserves it - he has been magnificent."


Frenchman Henry has been linked to Barcelona for some time

Henry began his career as a winger with Monaco in 1994 - under the supervision of current Arsenal boss Wenger.

He was in France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad and went on to join Juventus the following season.

But his time in Turin was a largely unsuccessful one and the player was soon heading to north London, with Wenger keen to get the best out of the prodigious talent.

The France international has since blossomed into one of the greatest talents in world football.

He helped Arsenal to two league titles and three FA Cups and led the Gunners to the finals of the 2000 Uefa Cup and 2006 Champions League.

In February 2006, he became the first Arsenal player to score over 200 goals for the club, with a strike against Birmingham, and has bagged a club record 226 goals in 364 appearances for the Gunners.

His consistency in front of goal ensured he finished as the Premier League's top scorer on four occasions.

He has won the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year title on two occasions and the football writers' player of the year three times. He has also twice finished runner-up in the Fifa world player of the year.

Emotional Henry salutes Gunners

Henry will undergo a medical at the Nou Camp on Monday

Thierry Henry is confident Arsenal still have a bright future despite his impending move to Barcelona.

The 29-year-old France striker, who has been with the Gunners since 1999, is on the brink of completing a £16m switch to the Nou Camp.

Henry told Arsenal's website: "I don't believe what everybody is saying about the club collapsing, having a lack of players and everyone leaving.

"The team here is growing and there is some amazing talent."

Interview: Thierry Henry on Arsenal TV

Henry pointed to the emergence of young midfielder Cesc Fabregas since Patrick Vieira left for Juventus in 2005 as proof that Arsene Wenger's side can cope without him.

This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything Thierry Henry

"I do think this is the right time for Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner, who is coming back from Birmingham, to shine," Henry added.

"Hopefully they will do it. As soon as you know they can do it, they will forget about me, that's the way it is.

"When Patrick left everyone was devastated, including me and then after that a little guy came around called Cesc Fabregas and, although I didn't agree with it, everyone started saying 'who needs Patrick Vieira'?

"Cesc is a world-class player, Robin van Persie is a world-class player, hopefully Adebayor will become a world-class player, Tomas Rosicky is a world-class player, Jens Lehmann is a world-class player, Kolo Toure and William Gallas are world-class players. You can go through the whole squad like that.

"I will now become an Arsenal fan and will be looking at every result. I am sure the team will be successful."

606: DEBATE What next for Arsenal?

Henry also gave a personal tribute to Gunners fans for their support during his eight years at the club.

"I would like say to you that you have been tremendous for me and I really do appreciate it," he explained.

"I am shaking as I say this. I will always remember you and I will have you in my head and my heart.

"I wanted to reassure you that I always gave 100% here. I hope you appreciate what I did here because I appreciate what you did for me.

"I grew as a man and became a better football player - I will always take that with me no matter what happens.

"Arsenal will be in my blood as well as my heart. I will always, always, always remember you guys. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner.

"The club is in my heart and will remain in my heart forever."

Henry casts fresh doubt on future

Thierry Henry has cast fresh doubt on his Arsenal future after admitting he was "devastated" by vice-chairman David Dein's departure.
The 29-year-old France star also admits he is flattered by reports of interest from Champions League winners AC Milan.

He said: "I was devastated when Mr Dein left the club. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know."

And on possible moves from Milan, Henry added: "That is great to hear. How can it be anything else?"

Mr Dein leaving Arsenal was not a clever move

Thierry Henry

Henry added: "As I have said many times, at the moment I am an Arsenal player. But everyone knows that a lot of stuff has happened at the club recently that wasn't supposed to happen.

"So the only thing I can tell you is right now I am an Arsenal player but I cannot deny it's nice to hear about Milan."

Henry, whose personal advisor is Dein's son Darren, came out in strong support for the former vice-chairman, who left after "irreconcilable differences" with the Arsenal board.

Dein was also manager Arsene Wenger's closest confidante, and Henry told ESPN: "The bosses have been unsettled and a lot of players at the club have been unsettled.

"Although no one is bigger than the club, Arsene Wenger and Mr Dein are really close to being Arsenal.

"So if you ask me if there was one person on the board I would not like to see leaving, I would have said Mr Dein.

"Unfortunately it is out of my hands. I don't agree with what has happened but sometimes that's the way things are. We just have to move on."

Beckham commits to England cause

David Beckham said is eager to play for England as long he is "allowed" to.

The former captain, 32, was England's shining light against Estonia, setting up two of his side's three goals during the 3-0 victory in Talinn.

"I believe I can play for this team as long as I am allowed to," Beckham told BBC Five Live.

"If this carries on then great. But I've enjoyed the last couple of weeks being in the team and

with the lads. There has been a great atmosphere."

Interview: England midfielder David Beckham

He added: "Coach Steve McClaren has made it clear - if I'm performing and playing like I've been playing recently I'll be in the squad."

Beckham's England career was deemed to be over after he was left out of McClaren's first squad last August.

When he's playing like that he's invaluable to us
McClaren on Beckham

But the midfielder, who is set to move to American side LA Galaxy next season, has been in sparkling form for Real Madrid since the turn of the year.

That, coupled with England's indifferent displays in their last four qualifiers, saw McClaren bring the player back into the squads for the games against Brazil and Estonia.

"I'm doing what I love doing, which is playing football," said Beckham, who also revealed he twisted his ankle early in the match.

"We beat Estonia because the team worked hard during the game - it was a big win for us.

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It was the wrong decision to drop Beckham in the first place
EB

"We knew we had to come out on top and because of that these players came out fighting."
McClaren was delighted with Beckham's performance.

"David was immense," said the former Middlesbrough boss.

"He has set up three of the four goals we have scored since he came back and that's why he's in the team.

"He got a knock early on but didn't want to come off and when he's playing like that he's invaluable to us but once we got the second and third we could allow him to take a breather.

"Now he can get back to Real Madrid and try and win a medal."

Estonia 0 - 3 England

David Beckham inspired England to a comfortable Euro 2008 qualifier win against Estonia in Tallinn to ease the pressure on coach Steve McClaren.

Joe Cole broke the deadlock after 36 minutes, turning sweetly to volley home Peter Crouch's flick.

Crouch doubled England's lead eight minutes after the break when he headed home a superb Beckham cross.

Beckham then provided a far post cross for Michael Owen to add England's third after 61 minutes.

Interview: England boss Steve McClaren
Interview: England midfielder David Beckham
Interview: England's Peter Crouch

It was a professional display from England that sets them up for the crucial qualifying tests against Croatia and Russia later this year.

And as well as Beckham confirming his return to the international stage before limping off with an ankle injury, Owen will also be delighted to be back on target for England after his lengthy

absence with a serious knee injury.

England, as expected, recalled Crouch up front alongside Owen, and he had a hand in the goal that finally broke the deadlock.

McClaren's side had been made to work hard for their advantage against a resilient, but desperately limited, Estonia side.

Crouch side-footed inches wide from the edge of the area as England dominated possession without making an early breakthrough.

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Give your thoughts on the match

Beckham was a major source of danger, despite struggling after twisting an ankle early on, sending a dipping shot just wide.

He also created confusion in the Estonia area in the 28th minute, keeper Mart Poom palming out his free-kick to Owen, but the striker was unable to turn home the rebound.

England were finally ahead nine minutes before the interval, when Cole turned and scored brilliantly after Crouch flicked on Wayne Bridge's throw-in.

But Estonia were almost gifted an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Vladimir Voskoboinikov was only denied by Paul Robinson's brave block after evading Ledley King and John Terry.

England, however, finished off Estonia with a double strike after the break, with Beckham the creator on both occasions.

After 53 minutes he curled in a superb right-flank cross which Crouch headed beyond Poom.

And eight minutes later he set up Owen for a far post finish that gave the Newcastle striker a record 23rd competitive goal for his country.

Beckham left the field to an ovation from England's fans after 67 minutes, to be replaced by Kieron Dyer.

The only other downside on England's night was a late booking for Crouch which rules him out of the qualifier with Israel at Wembley in September.

Estonia almost claimed their first goal of the qualifying campaign in injury time, but captain John Terry cleared off the line from Tarmo Kink.

Estonia: Poom, Jaager, Stepanov, Kruglov, Klavan, Dmitrijev, Lindpere, Vassiljev, Konsa (Neemelo 46), Voskoboinikov, Terehhov (Kink 64).Subs Not Used: Kotenko, Barengrub, Rooba, Leetma, Kams.

England: Robinson, Brown, Terry, King, Bridge, Beckham (Dyer 68), Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (Downing 75), Crouch, Owen (Jenas 88).Subs Not Used: Carson, Carragher, Smith, Defoe.
Booked: Crouch.

Goals: Cole 37, Crouch 54, Owen 62.

Att: 11,000

Ref: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland).

From : BBC Sports