Henry's comment in Beijing caused alarm across the Gooner diaspora.
He said, "I'm an Arsenal player for now."
That, to me, is flirting. It's also politics, taking up a position.
A football star as media-savvy as Henry knows how to send a message to his directors and manager. If Arsene Wenger says he guarantees that Thierry Henry will be at Arsenal next season, then Henry can be fairly sure the Professor wants to keep him. But not 100% sure, since nothing is quite as simple as it seems in the fishbowl of the Premiership.
Henry wants Arsenal to sign more experienced players.
As does William Gallas, who moved into the same street as Henry in Hampstead two months ago. Henry was a lethal goalscorer in a team of adult warriors, a platoon of leaders who fought his battles and took all the kicks for him. But when he has to be a leader, when he has to be a warrior, forget it. He can't win every game on his own, or in a team of kids, so he needs Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg.
Thierry has been Arsenal captain since 2005 and the team has not won anything under his captaincy and it won't win anything with him as captain.
To me, all this stuff looks like flirting and politics, coded messages. As if Henry allows his people to encourage Barcelona and Milan to say they want to sign him.
The first football headline I saw at 8.15 am on Friday morning was: Henry flattered by Milan link (Football UK). I smiled when I saw that.
The second headline I saw was : Henry casts fresh doubt on his future (BBC Sport). I thought : shall I click on that? I'm gasping for a cup of tea, shall I click on that? Or go and have a cup of tea and read it later? I decided to read it later.
We've read that David Dein's Totteridge neighbour Mike Ashley, a reclusive billionaire, has bought Newcastle from Sir John Hall and Freddie Shepherd.
Then we also read that Ashley wanted to hire David Dein as his chief executive.
As I understand it, Ashley's wife lives near the Deins. The couple split up two years ago. And I've heard that Dein's family want him to give up football.
As you know, David Dein has been keeping his head down and his mouth shut.
I gather that Dein and Stan Kroenke can't be seen together or be in contact.
If two men, who between them own 27% of a company, are working together, they are deemed to be "in concert" and obliged by the Stock Exchange to say whether they will make a bid for the company or not. If they say "no" they are then "offside", which means they cannot make bid for six months.