Speculation that Theirry Henry could leave Arsenal this summer
has mounted after Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was quoted as
saying his friend would soon be joining him at the Nou Camp.
"He is a great mate of mine and we will play all together,"
Eto'o was quoted as saying by British newspapers, before playing
down suggestions he could be offered to Arsenal in a swap deal for
Henry. "There is room for everybody."
Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira meanwhile warned that the
London club must splash out on some big name players if they want
to keep Henry.?
Vieira told BBC Radio: "Thierry wants Arsenal to show they want
to stay at the top of English football and European football.
"If they bring in two or three big names it will show they want
to compete against the best. If that is not the case Thierry will
have to ask himself what is the best for him and in the end decide
what is best.
"Of course all of Arsenal will hope he will stay at Arsenal but
the basic decision he will make himself."
Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005 before moving on to
Inter Milan, with whom he won last year's Italian Serie A
title.
The France international believes that manager Arsene Wenger
could also be set for a departure from the Gunners following the
shock exit of vice-chairman David Dein.
Dein made a sudden departure in April because of "irreconcilable
differences" with the rest of the Gunners board, meaning Wenger
lost his closest ally at the club.
Vieira believes this could herald Wenger's departure, saying: "I
think it would be difficult to stay with what he had done with
David Dein.
"Without David Dein I don't think it would be the same for
him.
"(Because) they started together and it will be strange for him
to stay but you never know."
Wenger last week refused to commit his long-term future to the
club, which has failed to win silverware since winning the FA Cup
in 2005.
(China Daily via AFP June 22, 2007)