The only bit of good news in a Sunday paper scan is that Kyle Bartley, the young Bolton centre-back is Arsenal bound, according to the NoW. Arsenal have beaten off competition from Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City. The fee will be agreed by a tribunal.
Henry to Barcelona articles are everywhere. Some ANR readers think this story is a load of crap. But this is a review of what is in the papers, with comments – as it was in 1995, before blogs were invented.
The Mail has 'Arsenal may accept £20m' – but that Henry is being offered lower wages at Barca. Lilian Thuram is wheeled out saying it would be great if Henry joined Barca.
And George Graham in another red-top says life will go on if Henry leaves, drawing parallels to Liam Brady leaving for Juventus, and Roy Keane leaving Man United with the team then winning the title.
One paper has: Wenger is on holiday – and nothing will be decided until he returns.
Two points: sportsmen have only a certain amount of time when they can sustain peak, optimum performance, when everything is in sync. There's a school of thought this can only last two or three years, and Henry is past the top of the curve.
Secondly, Henry is club captain. As such his words mean something. THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING. "I am an Arsenal player, for now." How fantastically inspirational. Never heard Tony Adams saying that.
Meanwhile the Mirror has a Rosicky to Atletico story, with the Spanish club trying to capitalise on the 'confusion' at Arsenal. Atletico nearly had Rosciky last year – but couldn't afford the payments. He has been mentioned in a swap deal.
The article says if Wenger goes then William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas and Philippe Senderos would almost certainly look elsewhere.
OK, this may not be true but the question needs to be asked: do these players play for Arsenal FC or Arsene FC? (as posed by ANR reader Paul M).
Talking of Atletico, the Guardian gossip column had 'Torres seen with people who looked like directors near Ashburton Grove'. Take it or leave it. But looking back, Wenger is on record as liking Torres, and often comes back for targets a year or two later, such as Adebayor. Well you can only hope….
David Dein to Newcastle appears in several papers. Mike Ashley, the new owner (or substantial shareholder) who has board troubles of his own, is a near neighbour of Dein's and the ex-Arsenal vice-chairman is set to be offered a chief executive role.
Several papers report that Jeremie Aliadiere has edged closer to a Middlesbrough move. The Teeside club are "understood to have agreed a deal to take the 24-year-old Frenchman to the Riverside Stadium". The mooted fee is £1.5m.
Meanwhile Charlton want to re-sign Alexandre Song on a season-long loan, following a four-month spell at The Valley. [Interesting that Song and Chimbonda arrived from Bastia to the Premiership at the same time. Chimbonda is reported to have attracted a £10m bid from Chelsea.]
The Mirror says that Jose Reyes could very well end up at Seville, on a permanent deal.
Ray Parlour is clubless after leaving Hull City on a pay as you play contract.
Manchester United are the 11-8 favourites to win the Premiership again, with Chelsea 6/4; Liverpool 5/1; Arsenal 8/1 and 80/1 Spurs according to Betfair. Amazing what £50m on signings in a week can do.