Eto'o fuels Henry talk

The Barca marksman is a close friend of Henry and having spoken to him about the subject believes that his pal will soon be swapping the Emirates for the Nou Camp.

"He is a great mate of mine and we will play together," Eto'o told the Times. "There is room for everybody.

"I was chatting to him while he was boarding the plane that took him to the States to see the NBA final."

Henry's future with the Gunners has become more and more uncertain over recent weeks and despite the signing of a new contract and his declaration of undying love for Arsenal last summer a move now seems likely.

Barcelona tried, and failed, to lure Henry to Spain a year ago but uncertainty over the ownership of the club and the future of manager Arsene Wenger in the wake of David Dein's departure from the board has seen the Frenchman become disillusioned.

A Henry-Eto'o strikeforce in Barcelona is a mouthwatering prospect, although the Cameroon international has himself been the subject of much speculation, with a move to the Premiership heavily mooted.

But the three-times African player of the year remains under contract with Barca and claims he is going nowhere.

"There are people interested in me leaving," Eto'o said. "Only I will decide my future and I will remain here."

Meanwhile, former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes the only way Henry will stay at the north London club is if the Gunners spend big this summer.

Henry's France team-mate knows all about success at the highest level after having won this year's Scudetto with Internazionale, and believes Arsenal need to splash some cash in order to compete with the best.

"Thierry wants Arsenal to show they want to stay at the top of English football and European football," Vieira told BBC Five Live.

"If they bring in two or three big names it will show they want to compete against the best.

"If that is not the case Thierry will have to ask himself what is the best for him and in the end decide what is best.

"Of course all of Arsenal will hope he will stay at Arsenal but the basic decision he will make himself."