Henry: Barca only option after Gunners

The France striker is on the verge of clinching a reported £16million move to the Nou Camp after finally deciding his time in north London must come to an end.

Explaining his decision to leave Arsenal, Henry told the club's official website: "I left Arsenal to go to Barcelona because, no disrespect to any other team, but there are only two teams in the world who play football the way I like it. That is the way the people here like it -- the Arsenal way."

Henry is due in Catalonia on Sunday after the two clubs agreed the terms of the deal, with the Gunners claiming that just a medical and the "completion of formalities" stand between the move taking place.

In an open letter to The Sun, published on Saturday morning, the 29-year-old claimed uncertainty over manager Arsene Wenger's future was a major factor in his decision to leave the Gunners, and also cited the departure of former vice-chairman David Dein, a close personal friend of Henry's, as another reason to quit for Spain.

Henry's apparently certain departure has come as a massive blow to the club and its supporters, who are still raking over the ashes of another disappointing season.

A fourth-placed finish in the Barclays Premiership for a second season running failed to meet expectations, while there was no consolation to be found in the cup competitions where a final defeat by Chelsea in the Carling Cup was as good as it got for Wenger's men.

But Henry believes Gunners fans have every reason to be optimistic despite his decision to jump ship, and is adamant the talent is already there to fill his sizeable boots.

He continued: "The team here is growing and there is some amazing talent here and I do think this is the right time for Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner, who is coming back from Birmingham, to shine.

"Hopefully they will do it. As soon as you know they can do it, they will forget about me, that's the way it is."