West Brom v Arsenal The Hawthorns, 8.0 On TV: Sky Sports 2:Thierry Henry lost out in the three-man contest for FIFA World Player of the Year to his France team-mate Zinedine Zidane yesterday but Arsenal's striker vowed he "will be back" and intends to do that as a Highbury player.
The most encouraging aspect of the day for Arsenal was Henry's pledge to the Gunners before the ceremony in Basle, following hard on the club's insistence their prized player was not for sale, to Chelsea or Real, at any price.
Henry, who is likely to start against West Bromwich Albion in tonight's first-leg League Cup quater-final at The Hawthorns, returned the compliment: "I want to feel priceless for them and them to be proud of me. As long as people are happy with me at Arsenal, I want to stay there. I don't really know what is happening in the background with the transfers and money but I know what I want. Both me and Arsenal are on the same line.
"Arsenal gave me a hand when I was down. If I am among the last three for the World Player of the Year award, it is thanks to them. I have got that feeling of passion for Arsenal, I could talk about it all day," added Henry.
"They gave me the chance to be myself by making me play as a centre forward. I feel so happy in London, the boss (Wenger) trusts me as well as the fans and I want to make them all happy when I am on the pitch."
Meanwhile, Geoff Horsfield's imminent arrival at West Brom offers a perfectly-timed reminder of the canyon-esque disparity in circumstances that separates the club at the head of the English League and the Premiership leaders.
While Arsenal have raised the drawbridge in response to bids for Henry that would be sufficient to buy Albion lock, stock and throstle, their First Division counterparts have used the proceeds from their League Cup run to pay for Horsfield.
Albion have had their £1 million bid accepted by Wigan for the 30-year-old striker, who moved from Birmingham City for the same amount three months ago. He has since scored seven goals in 16 starts for Wigan, including the winner against Albion on his home debut.
Horsfield is due to meet Albion's chairman Jeremy Peace today to negotiate his personal terms. Should the two parties reach an agreement, Horsfield will not be eligible to play against Arsenal because he is cup-tied.
There is also the question of the strengths of the clubs' respective first teams, as borne out by last season's meetings in the Premiership.
"We lost 5-2 at Highbury and it was one of the only two real thumpings we experienced all season," recalled Albion's manager Gary Megson. "But I do take some encouragement from the game against Arsenal at our place when we held them for 80 minutes before Henry scored a late winner.
"I know, though, that if they put their full-strength side out then we'll be up shit creek without a paddle. And, even if they don't, they are a big club and have a big squad that contains the best squad players you can get."
Evidence of that was provided by Arsenal's victory in the last round when a team that included seven teenagers humiliated an almost first-choice Wolverhampton Wanderers line-up 5-1.
Wenger is expected to give several of his talented cubs the chance to prove their worth again tonight. While that should enhance Albion's prospects of accounting for a third Premiership club, after disposing of Newcastle United and Manchester United, it does have its drawbacks for Megson. He fears an Arsenal line-up with several unknowns could breed a sense of anti-climax, as it did before the previous round against Manchester United.
"I felt that my players did not think they were taking on the real Manchester United because the likes of Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs were missing," he said. "So I sat them down and told them that players like Nicky Butt, Kleberson and Ronaldo were in the United dressing room and that they were still facing a good side. I may have to do the same before the Arsenal game if some of their big names are not playing."
