Wenger eager to get Henry signed soon

Arsenal 7 Middlesbrough 0

Henry confirmed on Saturday that negotiations were finally underway about a new deal and then celebrated with a glorious hat-trick in the 7-0 demolition of Middlesbrough.

The striker’s current deal expires next year and Arsenal will be even more determined to get their influential captain to commit himself after Saturday’s wonder show against Steve McClaren’s struggling Boro.

Arsenal showed their ambitions last week with the signing of French U19 international Vasiriki Abou Diaby and Togo international striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Monaco.

Theo Walcott is also on the verge of joining Arsenal, after Wenger let slip that a deal was almost complete.

Wenger said he had made three January signings, but corrected himself when it was pointed out he has only officially bought Abo Diaby and Adebayor.

He said: “Sorry, two”, then added: “Sorry, two-and-a-half.”

Asked if he was referring to Walcott, the Arsenal manager said: “I would like to tell you.”

Henry has refused to put a time limit on when he will put pen to paper, adding that there is much to talk about yet, but Wenger has other ideas.

Wenger confirmed: “We are already in talks with him. It is still early but we hope we will get to a happy conclusion with him.

“I feel he trusts us as a club and trusts the direction in which we want to go. The fact he has said his desire is to stay here is a huge mark of trust towards the directors and staff and he knows how ambitious we are.

“He knows we want to be the best and have the best players here - and obviously the quicker we can sign the deal, the better for everyone. I would say it should be a matter of weeks rather than months.”

Henry was exceptional against Middlesbrough and on his day it is doubtful there is a player to match him for pace, power, guile and trickery.

His hat-trick strike in the 68th minute, Arsenal’s sixth of the day, not only capped a glorious performance but equalled Highbury legend Cliff Bastin’s record of 150 league goals for the club.

“It is vital for everyone, for me, the club, and the fans, to be in the Champions League next season,” Henry said. “We are not that far away but it is really important and crucial for us. If we can carry on doing what we did against Middlesbrough then we can consider the top four positions.”

Opta Fact: Arsenal have kept five clean sheets in a row in the Premiership.

Opta Fact: Boro have conceded 25 goals in their last seven Premiership trips to Highbury. Birmingham are the only home side who have failed to score against them this season.