Henry contract talks underway

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has confirmed he has opened talks with the club over a new deal.

Henry, who netted a hat trick in Arsenal's 7-0 demolition of Middlesbrough on Saturday, pledged his future to the club last week.

The Frenchman moved to end speculation last Friday by revealing that he is happy to stay at Highbury despite constant speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

He has just 18 months on his current deal and it was feared that he could leave North London in the summer.

However, with Henry vowing to stay the club have began negotiations to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

The striker revealed earlier on Saturday that money did not matter to him in his contract talks and that he was looking to see what Arsenal's ambitions were before inking a new deal.

"I have spoken briefly with the board and the manager in the last week," said Henry. "But we still have things to discuss.

"I just hope all the discussions I have with the board and with the manager show the club can match my sporting ambitions.

"I see a lot of people talking about money and saying what we can afford, whatever - that is not my main concern.

"I came into the sport to play football and enjoy it, that is my main concern. When I talk about sporting ambition, I mean my future in the game - nothing to do with money.

"I guess signing new players comes into it but that's nothing to do with me.

I'm here to play football and you have other people who have to do what they have to do.

"So there is still a lot to do. When I say the ball is in the board's court, I don't mean it in a bad way, I just mean I have said what my feelings are and we will see.

"I know people will still ask questions right up until I sign the contract but I wanted to make it clear from my side.

"Whether the deal will be signed in the next few days, weeks, months, I really don't know - it depends how it goes.

"I haven't really had the chance to talk to the rest of the squad about it because I had a couple of days off last week and then they went to play Wigan, so I missed them.

"But I'm sure a few of them will have a few questions for me and I will tell them my position."


Arsenal will be keen to conclude talks quickly with Henry so that they can concentrate on the rest of the season and news of talks being underway will come as a major boost to Arsenal fans.