Henry commits to Gunners

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry will today thrash out the details of a new contract which will keep him at the club for another four years.

The France international ended months of speculation about his future by announcing he wanted to stay with the Gunners “as long as I can keep running”.

Henry, 28, has only 12 months left on his existing deal had been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona – the team which beat Arsenal in Wednesday’s Champions League final.

Many expected that match in the Stade de France in Paris to be Henry’s Arsenal swansong but on the flight home he dropped a huge hint when, addressing passengers in the plane over the intercom, he said: “We must pick ourselves up and make sure we come back stronger next year.”

Now he has gone further than that by finally coming out and saying he wants to stay at the club and lead Arsenal in their new Emirates Stadium at Ashburton Grove,

“I hope to stay for as long as I can keep running. I could not face leaving the fans. They are like my family,” he told The Sun, who report the player is ready to sign a new four-year contract. “I hope to finalise all the details today.”

Henry had previously said he would make a decision before the World Cup – now only three weeks away – but the team’s valiant display in the Champions League final after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off appears to have brought a swift conclusion to the long-running saga.

“My team showed me I didn’t have to leave. They showed me they had heart,” added Henry.

“Everything was up in the air for a very long time. But at the end of the day, the team raised their game.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love Barcelona. But on Wednesday night, Arsenal showed me they had heart.”