£15m could be magic mark to trigger Henry's Arsenal exit

Henry has established a wonderful rapport with Arsenal fans during eight distinguished years but even the most one-eyed devotee knows the striker does what he wants — when he wants.

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Xavi today became the latest figure at Barcelona to urge the Frenchman to go to Spain following interest from AC Milan. The midfielder believes a move to the club would create the greatest attacking team in the world.

He said: "A Barca with Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Henry would demolish anybody. Henry is a special player who would be welcome in any club because he is a star and everything he would contribute would be positive.

"If I were director of Barcelona, I would sign him right now. He has all the necessary skills to succeed here."

Henry was in a similar position a year ago . . . until the moment last summer when, frustrated after his Champions League ambition was thwarted by Barcelona in the final, he committed his long-term future to Arsenal.

When he signed his new contract he said he hoped to remain with the club for the rest of his career but recent events suggest Henry is no longer quite so sure. Within the last few weeks, after a season disrupted by injuries, he has intimated that:

His future at Arsenal is linked to that of manager Arsene Wenger, whose contract expires next year.

He's an Arsenal player "for the moment".

Newspaper reports suggesting AC Milan might bid for him are "interesting".

There is another element that may have generated in Henry a desire to leave Arsenal. That is the departure of David Dein, the former vice-chairman, who was influential, with Wenger, in signing Henry and creating a Premiership-winning team.

Henry made it clear in an interview with L'Equipe that he considered Dein's departure to be a loss to the club.

"If there's one man who should not leave Arsenal it's David Dein," he said.

I doubt Dein's demise would, in itself, make Henry leave. The Arsenal captain is rarely swayed by outside interests.

"I've not made any decisions and my name is not up on the departures board," he says.

Nonetheless it's possible he could use Dein's departure to justify his decision should he quit.

Far more likely to influence Henry would be the departure of Wenger, who took him from Juventus and turned him into a star.

If Henry stays but Wenger leaves at the end of next season, pupil would follow the master out of the club.

For the moment, there's no doubt Arsenal expect their captain to honour the terms of his contract.

So, it would seem, are Henry's representatives, who have swiftly dismissed reports of an agreement with Barcelona. But that doesn't rule out the unofficial manoeuvring of middle men.

Henry knows everyone has a price in the modern game. He's 30 in August and still possesses a phenomenal touch but he isn't going to get any quicker.

In such circumstances a bid of, say, £15million might tempt Arsenal to release him.

He may not leave just yet, but I suspect he will be tempted to follow the example of Highbury icons like Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Liam Brady by setting himself a new challenge.

It will feel like a kick in the teeth at the time of his departure, but Arsenal fans will get over it.