Henry keeps the Arsenal dream alive

IT IS a measure of Thierry Henry’s greatness that when he announced he was staying at Arsenal after all, it produced the warmest of glows in football circles.

Not just in the red parts of north London, but in the hearts of football fans throughout England.

There cannot be a football supporter in the country — and that includes those from Tottenham and Chelsea — who has not been touched by the brilliance of Henry’s skills these past seven years.

Nor warmed by his honest and intelligent approach to the sport. That’s why the Premiership needed him more than La Liga.

And why Arsenal can now go on to win the Champions League trophy which eluded them by a mere 15 minutes on Wednesday at the Stade de France.

Suddenly, Arsene Wenger’s claim that “this team is ahead of schedule” carries real weight.

The future looks bright, especially as the move to their new Ashburton Grove stadium must give the club fresh impetus, considering an extra 25,000 fans will be roaring them on at each home match.

What about Chelsea? Once they land Andriy Shevchenko, or the world class striker they covet, won’t they expand their domestic domination across Europe?

Possibly. Except, even if Shevchenko went to Stamford Bridge, they would not have an Henry.

Even though many would put Barcelona’s Ronaldinho ahead of Henry when measuring the world’s best footballer, the Brazilian does not guarantee the goals which Henry has supplied year in and year out — 214 goals in 313 matches for Arsenal, eclipsing Cliff Bastin’s record of 150 league goals by 14 and Ian Wright’s record of 185 goals in all competitions by 29.

It is why Arsenal have turned down offers of £50 million (€73 million) for Henry in the past. The money would be attractive but goalscorers and goalmakers in the Henry mould simply do not exist.

He is unique and even on the way back from the disappointment of Paris, Wenger was exhausting his powers of persuasion to persuade his fellow Frenchman to stay to lead the next Arsenal dynasty.

He was helped by the heart and character shown by his team after the sending off of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

That, in particular, appealed to Henry, who would have seen more cash and more sun at Barcelona but who could never have been appreciated more than he is in the English Premiership.

It does not mean Arsenal will add to their three league titles under Wenger.

Over 38 matches Chelsea have too much buying power, too much quality in depth for others seriously to get much closer than Manchester United did last season.

After all, already they have signed Germany’s Michael Ballack on wages of £130,000 (€190,000) per week and a few more world class signings will surely follow.

But they can only play 11 players at any one time, which means they are more vulnerable in a knockout format rather than in the exercise in consistency which is the Premiership.

Wenger knows that, and he is astute enough too to recognise that other competitions must be sacrificed if Arsenal are going to win one of football’s major prizes.

So do not expect the League Cup next season to be more than a run-out for Arsenal’s youth team nor the FA Cup to be more than a fitness test for Arsenal’s reserves.

In Paris, Wenger admitted he had sacrificed the domestic cups for a crack at the Champions League.

The chances are he has already told Henry that will again apply next season when Arsenal’s youngsters will be one season older and wiser.

In many ways, the Gunners are better placed than United and even perhaps Liverpool, to effect a challenge on the Champions League front.

Throughout Wenger’s team there is hunger and quality and a pleasing blend of youth and experience.

Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Mathieu Flamini and Philippe Senderos will give the Gunners a rock-solid base for years to come.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas gets more impressive by the month, and while the futures of Robert Pires and Ashley Cole are uncertain and Arsenal will miss the retiring Dennis Bergkamp, there are others set to blossom.

Robin van Persie promises to be a big star of the future and if Wenger can find two more quality signings to assist Gilberto and Freddie Ljungberg — and he is the best in the business at turning unknowns into superstars — then Arsenal are right to have confidence.

It would also help matters if Wenger actually required his players to adhere to a stricter disciplinary code, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann’s dismissal in Paris ruling him out of crucial qualifying ties next season and bringing Arsenal red cards during Wenger’s reign to 63.

But, in truth, it all comes back to Henry.

Without him Arsenal could forget dreams of European triumph. With him there is every chance the Champions League trophy’s next address could be Ashburton Grove.