Henry's home comforts offer Arsenal stability

LONDON, Aug 16 (Reuters) Losing Champions League and World Cup finals in less than two months was a bitter pill to swallow for Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry.

Emerging from a mentally draining period in which his career reached a crossroads, Henry is now looking to the future with renewed hope.

After seven seasons and more than 200 goals, and after becoming the top scorer in Arsenal's history, the 28-year-old Henry had been on the verge of leaving the club where his name has entered folklore.

Just two days after a 2-1 defeat by Barcelona on May 17, however, Henry signed a new four-year deal to end speculation that he would join the Spanish champions and new European Cup holders.

''This is my last contract. It is where I belong,'' he said at the time.

Three months later Henry has no regrets, happy in his heart and head that his playing career will end at the club he loves.

''I said if I did wait that long leaving was maybe on my mind but you have to understand and be in my position, when you go out there it was so difficult to leave. I just love the club, as simple as that,'' Henry told Reuters in an interview.

Henry, born in Paris to a father from Guadeloupe and mother from Martinique, now calls London home and despite a summer of upheaval believes Arsenal can rise again to challenge Chelsea for the Premier League title, a crown they ceded to their London rivals.

POINTS GULF Arsenal's worst league finish for 10 years was highlighted by the huge gulf in points last season. Arsene Wenger's side scraped fourth place and a Champions League qualifying berth on the final day of the season but 27 points separated them from Jose Mourinho's champions.

Relations between the two teams are less than cordial but Henry refuses to snipe at Chelsea's success.

''Everyone would love to have a chairman like that but you can't be envious. Good for them. We have to do what we can to catch them,'' he said.

''People just link Chelsea with money, but they have won the league back to back because they are a good team. They play well as a team, they fight for each other.'' Defeat to Barca at the Stade de France in Paris marked the end of an era. Dutch master Dennis Bergkamp retired, French midfielder Robert Pires quickly left for Villarreal in Spain while England defender Sol Campbell announced he would seek a new challenge.

''Some players left obviously but we have a lot of young talent,'' said Henry. Trying to do the same run in Champions League won't be easy but we have the anger to go back there again and the desire.

''Since that (Champions League quarter-final) win at Madrid you saw another Arsenal team, the way we finished the season and the way we had that run in the Champions League was amazing so I think we can carry on like that.'' The Arsenal captain believes the continued speculation over the Arsenal futures of Ashley Cole and Jose Antonio Reyes will have little effect on a side pinning their future hopes on young players Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.

''You saw already the team was on tune at Dinamo Zagreb with a lot of players missing. We won 3-0 (in first leg of the Champions League qualifier) over there and it isn't an easy place to go and win.'' REUTERS KP0902