Gunners better without Henry: Ferguson

Manchester United boss 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.”