Fergie: Arsenal better off without Henry

[Tilla]

'Gunners better without Henry'


ShaunBotterill/GettyImages
Henry: Departure gives other chance to shine?
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects Arsenal to be a better team next season without Thierry Henry. Henry's departure to Barcelona has led to predictions of Arsene Wenger's side struggling for inspiration. 'They'll be in the top four,' said Ferguson. 'I'm more convinced they will be in the top four without Thierry Henry.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects Arsenal to be a better team next season without talisman Thierry Henry.

Henry's departure to Barcelona has led to predictions of Arsene Wenger's side struggling for inspiration, but Ferguson feels it could have the opposite effect.

Arsenal have not finished outside the top four of the Premier League since Wenger was appointed in 1996 and Ferguson believes they will be in the top four along with United.

'They'll be in the top four,' said Ferguson on Sky Sports News. 'I'm more convinced they will be in the top four without Thierry Henry.

'I just thought it was time for him to go. Arsene Wenger knew that, and I think they'll do better.'

Wenger is continuing preparations for the post-Henry era by fielding a strong line-up against Barnet in a friendly at the weekend.

'It could be a very strong team at Barnet,' Wenger told www.Arsenal.com.

'Basically the players that are back in training are available, so you could see Kolo Toure, Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini, Denilson, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

'They are all likely to be included so it should be a very familiar side.'

Wenger has just completed the signing of France Under-21 defender Bacary Sagna from Auxerre, his fourth signing of the summer.

'We've been very impressed by him,' said club scout Gilles Grimandi.

'We've watched him both playing for Auxerre and the under-21 team and scouted him over more than 40 games.'

[OJ]

Dont start up Karl ..

[Peter R]

Henry mussi did turn down Fergie an him feelin like a jilted lover...

pr

[Karl]

Wenger has just completed the signing of France Under-21 defender Bacary Sagna from Auxerre, his fourth signing of the summer.

'We've been very impressed by him,' said club scout Gilles Grimandi.

'We've watched him both playing for Auxerre and the under-21 team and scouted him over more than 40 games.'

Now that is scouting!

...and...

Arsenal better without Henry

Fool-fool Sir Alex or tongue in cheek Sir Alex?

[Karl]

Dont start up Karl ..

Yuh done kno!

It was just on looking at my GUNNERS over the last two seasons that whenever Henry was in the line-up...most of the other lads tended to play a self-contained game. I was thinking with Henry out we shall have a greater...less predictable (as opposed to ball in to Henry) and more flowing (as in ball to Henry he walks, he shrugs his shoulder...holds up play...wriggles and turns...pauses and struts...breaks into furious bursts and still does not release the ball, etc., etc...while the rest of the TEAM watches the amusing, ...yet thrilling 'paps & bruks', wheels and turns, electrifying goals, etc...but, not enough touches and bringing into game of the other players such that they are super-efficient when we play the Liverpools, Chelseas and ManUs... Killing the not so good...sometimes...but, too often going down to lesser teams and the Liverpools, Chelseas and ManUs ) TEAM game.

Bye Henry, you have left us with many happy memories. Wish you the best wherever you go.

Go GUNNERS!