Arsene Wenger hailed Thierry Henry’s decision to stay at Arsenal as more significant for the club’s future than winning the Champions League would have been.
Henry signed a new four-year deal at the north London club two days after the Gunners went down 2-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
”At the start of the week I had two targets, to win the Champions League and to persuade Thierry to stay,” Wenger said.
”I achieved only one, but for the future of this club, this is the best one.”
Wenger went on to add that he regarded Henry as the best player in the Premiership.
”You can all have an opinion about that, but with great players you check two things: one, do they make their team win and two, the numbers.
”We all know about Thierry’s numbers for goal scoring. But for me what makes him great is the assists. Even if he does not score, you know he will still contribute to help his team to win. The real great players are there.”
Wenger added that he expected to add two or three new players to his squad this summer, although he stressed that he would not deviate from the policy of concentrating on the development of young talent, which has brought the Gunners such success in Europe this season.
”We are the only club in the world with three teenagers at the World Cup [Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Johan Djourou].
”For me that is like three new signings, because they come back under 20 and having been at the World Cup, as Thierry did [in 199]). But we will be trying hard to strengthen the side.”
Arsenal’s vice-chairperson David Dein confirmed that Wenger would have money to spend this summer as the Gunners prepare for the financial windfall generated by their move to the new 60 000-seat Emirates Stadium.
”There has always been a budget for transfers in place and nothing changes, but we have always been prudent in the transfer market.
”Arsene has a habit of always picking out another miracle from somewhere and let’s hope he keeps on doing it.” — AFP
