OTHER SPORT

HENRY: IF WENGER GOES, SO DO I

Threat: Theirry Henry

Saturday April 28,2007

By Matt Law

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ON the day Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood moved a step closer to selling up, Thierry Henry delivered a stark warning to the Gunners board – keep Arsene Wenger or risk losing me.

Hill-Wood has arranged a meeting with American businessman Stan Kroenke, who has bought a 12.2 per cent stake in the club and been linked with a takeover attempt. But Arsenal’s largest shareholder Danny Fiszman yesterday denied claims he held talks with potential investors from Russia.

“Our managing director Keith Edelman has already had one meeting with Mr Kroenke since his investment and I have spoken to him recently to arrange a meeting, so I can hear what he has to say,” said Hill-Wood.

“His recent acquisition of shares has caused a great deal of speculation and the board felt the time was right to reassure the shareholders about the future of our club.”

The planned meeting represents a significant shift in thinking by Hill-Wood, who last week said: “Call me old-fashioned, but we don’t need Kroenke’s money and we don’t want his sort. Our objective is to keep Arsenal English, albeit with a lot of foreign players. I don’t know for certain if Kroenke will mount a hostile takeover, but we shall resist it with all our might.”

Wenger’s future came into question after his close friend, vice-chairman David Dein, left the club. The manager’s contract runs out next year and his willingness to sign a new deal will rest on how his search for a director of

football goes and what happens with the club’s ownership.

The fact Henry is represented by Dein’s son Darren has already led to speculation he may leave. But it is Wenger who holds the key.

“I believe in the boss and what he is trying to do here,” said Henry. “As long as he is here, then I will be here.”

That is unlikely to settle the nerves of Arsenal fans, who fear the departure of Wenger and Henry would see their team fall further behind the leading clubs.

But one player who will not be leaving Arsenal just yet is goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, 37, who has signed a one-year extension to his contract.

Lehmann had wanted a two-year deal, but Wenger insists on offering players over 30 just 12-month deals.