Wenger: Why would Henry leave?

Arsene Wenger insists he can see no reason why Thierry Henry would not want to stay on at Arsenal if they won the Champions League this season.

The 28-year-old – who is under contract for another season – has shown little sign of the constant speculation surrounding his future affecting performances on the pitch.

Henry is the leading marksman in the Barclays Premiership, and has produced some superb European displays to help the Gunners reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time, his brilliant individual goal against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu a stand-out moment.

Arsenal are confident Henry will agree a new long-term deal to keep him with the club as they prepare to move to the new, 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium from next season.

There have been suggestions, though, should the north-London side go on to win Europe’s top club prize, then Henry could consider his work done with Arsenal.

It was a notion, however, swiftly rejected by Wenger.

“You can take that both ways,” the Arsenal manager observed as he prepared for tomorrow night’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Villarreal.

“The incentive is to achieve it again, and at a new stadium.

“You could also say: ’He was won the World Cup, why would he want to win it again?’

“It is always the next trophy which motivates you.”

Wenger insisted: “I am into tomorrow’s game, not what Thierry will do, in case, or if.

“Football is a job for realistic people.

“Tomorrow we have a big game, let’s give everything to win it.

“We have waited for so long to be where we are – now let’s just love it and enjoy it and do all we can to win it.”

Tomorrow will mark the final European tie at Highbury, as the Gunners prepare for life at their new stadium next season, having been based on Avenell Road since 1913.

“I would love to do it [win the trophy] for them as well. But I already had the support of our fans, and I am very grateful for that,” said Wenger, who took charge at the club in September 1996 and subsequently lead them to the league and FA Cup double in his first full season.

“If I can pay them back, I will do it.”

The Arsenal boss quipped: “Unfortunately my left foot is not very good at the moment, my free-kicks with the right are not fantastic – but I will push tomorrow.”