The very same quotes are behind the headlines "Henry will walk away" (worldfootballers.com) and Henry settled at Highbury" (Sky Sports). The former lead their article with

"If he thought Arsenal were going backwards, Thierry Henry insists he would walk away from the club", and the latter with

"Thierry Henry has quashed speculation he is unhappy at Arsenal and stated nothing could make him leave The Gunners, except for the club themselves."

Anyone with any acquaintance with Henry's repeatedly-avowed attitude will not be surprised to find that Sky Sports are being a tad fairer to the guy.

Here's what he actually said,

"I'm very settled here. Nothing serious has ever happened to me since I've been at Arsenal, but you never know. If something did, I don't know how I would react."

For now, I'm happy and I get on really well with Arsene Wenger. Right now, nothing could make me leave."

"That said, it's only if the club wanted me to move or if I lost my place in the team, that I would consider going."

So, if we didn't want him, he'd reconsider his position. What a rebel!

The Sun add, "I think we can go higher still with Arsenal, otherwise I would leave." Controversial? Or is wanting the club to improve something that we expect from our players?

What we will say is that in these days of tapping and mercenaries, when a Londoner who supports the club fails to respond to transfer speculation in the same way (not that we've not given up on you, Ash) we continue to have a lot to be proud of in the fact that Arsenal are a club that can engender this much loyalty from the best player in the world. He's said it so many times that, incredibly, one hardly ever hears any speculation. And yet he keeps saying it.

Henry is joining the France squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers despite his calf injury. Wenger is hoping that he'll not play, so as to fully complete his recovery in time for Arsenal's next game on Saturday week: "He has to join up with the France squad as that's the rules but I don't think he will be capable of playing for them at all". But the French coach Raymod Domenech is optimistic that Henry will play, possibly even in both games against Switzerland and then Israel.

"He will join us at Clairefontaine and continue his treatment to prepare for the qualifiers." he said.

"I have not spoken with Arsene Wenger as there is no reason why I would spoil Thierry's chances to play those games such a long time beforehand, especially when I spoke with Titi on the phone and he hopes he will be fit to play both ties."

Henry has been on the treatment table this week, and not training at all so far. France's first game is in Paris on Saturday. David Trezeguet is also a doubt so our old mate Sylvain Wiltord could be rewarded for all those Champs League goals (hmmph!) with his first start since October.