Football Dispatch

Summer Football
22 June 2007
Thierry Henry has signed for Barcelona. The decision ends 13-months of speculation surrounding the 29-year-old's long-term future at Arsenal. After passing-up an opportunity to join the Catalan club last summer, Henry signed a 4-year contract-extension at Emirates Stadium before spending much of the season on the sidelines through injury. He is now expected to sign a new 4-year contract at the Nou Camp. Barcelona are reported to have paid 16M-pounds for the France international. His arrival is sure to cast Samuel Eto'o's future in Catalonia into further doubt. Henry's departure of Arsenal, meanwhile, further clouds an already murky situation at the north London club. Arsene Wenger will surely bolt the club when his contract expires next summer; and midfielder Cesc Fabregas has stated that he would follow Wenger anywhere. The chaos at Emirates Stadium was sparked when David Dein was forced to resign from the board of directors in April. Foreign ownership -- which Dein fully supported -- may be the only way for Arsenal to remain competitive in the modern Premier League.