| I don't think there's any great secret here.
Henry's now 29 and has arguably now had his best seasons so it makes sense to sell while he's still got a marketable value.
It is proven that unhappy players don't perform as well. Look at Van Nistelrooy in his last season at Man Utd.
If a player wants to go you can't stop him. Of course you can legally but there's little point in paying a player to perform half-heartedly.
I think Henry himself realised that Arsenal would struggle to finish in the top 4 this season - they're still a great team but it's not guaranteed any more with sides like Liverpool and Spurs steadily improving year on year. Playing in the Champions League is crucial for A-list players.
Barcelona also offers much more - a realistic title challenge, a Champions League challenge, playing along side Ronaldinho, Messi, etc - who can Arsenal boast now? Only Fabregas.
I think it's a good deal for everyone involved. |