Henry 'talked out of United move', Diarra's sour grapes and Gilberto says time to spend...

A few interesting stories doing the rounds today.  

After a poor first season at Barcelona and with the club ready to have a squad clearout in the summer, Thierry Henry was reportedly. only a fortnight ago, on the cusp of a move to Manchester United.

Only after reassurances from new coach Pep Guadiola did Thierry decide to remain in Catalunya.

"Thierry was told by the new coach he didn't want him to leave, that he was going to be a big player for Barca next season and would have an important role to play for them.

"That reassured Thierry - but United were ready to buy him."

Now, I really could not see such a move taking place, with Henry only weeks ago expressing his fondness for Arsenal in a rather candid interview for Football Focus. Whether there is any truth in the story or not remains to be seen but it just seems to me the tabloids really are having a slow news day.

Lassana Diarra has further endeared himself to Gooners everywhere today by telling Arsene Wenger to 'move on'.

Diarra made his bitter repost after Wenger questioned the French midfielders patience and decision to move to Portsmouth.

"I really can't understand why Mr Wenger is choosing to make such a fuss over me again,

"Why does he not move on? He speaks about me more than when I was there. It's a very strange one."

Diarra also took at Arsenal and Wenger's managerial capabilties saying,

"Perhaps to lose one French international midfielder may be regarded as misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.

"Do you really think I would leave a side like Chelsea to join Arsenal if certain promises were not made? I did not panic but wanted to play as promised.

"Portsmouth winning the FA Cup has more than justified my decision to make the move from Arsenal back in January."

Does he really think that winning the FA Cup this season justifies his departure? Does he really think he had the divine right to walk into a midfield boasting Fabregas and Flamini, both having the best seasons of their careers thus far? I wouldn't at all be suprised to see Diarra on the move again in the near future, as and when his ego sees fit. 

Another case of a former player taking a stab at the club, affiliating himself with other such intellectual characters as Bentley, Aliadiere and Cashley. Nice one.

Gilberto has stated new signings are needed this summer to keep the younger players motivated and ensure they are in the title race next season. The departure of Flamini and expected loss of Hleb mean the thinning of an already small squad.

"I think Arsene Wenger needs to bring in some players to compete with the other big teams,"

"They have many more players than us. It has been hard for us to fight the other teams because they are a lot stronger and more competitive.

"I think one of the biggest jobs is to keep everyone happy and motivated at Arsenal. Although we played some good football, we didn't win anything."

All fair comment you have to say. Despite having a starting 11 able to match any opposition we have met this season, at home or abroad, you have to say the players that have come in aren't yet of the quality of Manchester United or Chelsea.  

The most likely new signing, Samir Nasri has been encouraged to join Arsenal by former Marseille team mate, Franck Ribery.

"It is good for him," Ribery told reporters at France’s training camp in Clairefontaine. "It [Arsenal] is a good club with many young people.

"But the English championship is completely different, he will have to adapt in order to impose himself."