Henry to stick with Gunners

Profile: Thierry Henry

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has vowed to stay with the club for as long as they want him - and believes Patrick Vieira will also remain at Highbury.

Henry signed a new deal at the end of last season that will keep him at Highbury until 2007, but has since been linked with a move to free-spending Chelsea.

The Blues' new billionaire owner Roman Abromavich was said to be willing to pay £50m for the French star, who scored 24 Premiership goals last season.

But Henry told BBC Radio Five Live that he was unaware of any interest from the Stamford Bridge club.

I'm still an Arsenal player and as long as they want me to be here I will be an Arsenal player Thierry Henry

"I was on holiday so I didn't even know about it and I'm loyal to Arsenal," he said.

"I said before the Confederations Cup that I would sign a new contract and wanted to play for Arsenal no matter what and I still have the same spirit at the moment.

"I'm still an Arsenal player and as long as they want me to be here I will be an Arsenal player."

Henry is also convinced his team-mate for club and country Vieira will stay at Highbury.

Vieira has just a year left on his contract and has yet to agree to an extension, fuelling talk of a move to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

But Henry added: "There is no doubt he's going to be here.

"Some people are speculating about him because that guy from Chelsea (Abromavich) is everywhere at the moment.

Vieira deal in sight

"But Patrick is still a Gunner and he's still wearing the armband on his arm - he's still here and he's showing it on the pitch as well."

Henry believes Arsenal are in a good position to challenge for honours this season, but admitted the loss of influential keeper David Seaman is a blow.

"We still have the same team as last season apart from David Seaman," he added. "I think we're all going to regret that because he was a great man as well as a great footballer.

"But we have the same team as last season when for maybe four or five months people were talking about us as one of the best teams in Europe.

"So it's still the same players and if we have the same commitment and desire I think it's going to be okay."

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