Henry hopes Wenger will stay at Arsenal

Thierry Henry believes Arsene Wenger will stay at Arsenal next season, despite speculation linking the Gunners boss with a move away from north London this summer.

Henry was unveiled by Barcelona at a news conference at the Nou Camp on Monday afternoon, but Arsenal's all-time top goalscorer said he will remain a fan of the Gunners and hopes that his mentor will remain in charge of the Londoners for at least another year.

"Arsene is his own man, but I can only go with what he has said and he has said that he is going to see out his contract (which lasts until summer 2008). I'd like him to stay and it's important for the club that he does because if he also goes, it is going to be pretty difficult for the club. But only he can tell you about that."

Henry revealed he maintains an excellent relationship with the coach he first played under at Monaco, before their eight successful years together in the red and white half of north London.

He said: "My relationship with Arsene is out of this world and it won't change now that I am here.

"I can talk to him about anything. Private stuff, anything. When I decided I wanted to go we sat and down and we talked like big men.

"We respect each other and our relationship goes beyond Arsenal."

Henry refused to go over the reasons for his departure, but said it was difficult to leave Arsenal following eight happy years in London.

He added: "I have said so many times why I left Arsenal, I don't want to go back to that, but it was hard to leave.

"I always said that if I ever left Arsenal it would be to play for Barcelona. That is no disrespect to anybody."