Thierry Henry has called on Arsenal to keep Cesc Fábregas at all costs. The club have been in the habit of cashing in on valuable assets in recent seasons, but Henry said any bids from Spain for the midfielder should be rebuffed. "It is vital," he said. "He's the Arsenal captain, he's young, and I am sure he wants to give something back to the club. Knowing Cesc, that's really important."

Fábregas has been heavily linked with his former club Barcelona who Henry helped win a domestic double and the Champions League last season. The former Arsenal captain feels now is not the time for Fábregas to move to Camp Nou.

Henry also believes his old club should keep setting their sights high and not simply settle for a place in the Premier League's top four. "My feeling for Arsenal is that I don't talk about being in the top four, I talk about winning the league," he said.

"That's how I saw it when I was there, and that is still how I see it. Arsenal is a big club. Other clubs do what they do, but Arsène [Wenger] has proven, and Arsenal have proved so many times, that they can win without spending a lot of money. So hopefully they can do it again. People talk about the top four – but the only thing that matters to me is to be top. And I know that's all that matters to Arsène."

His faith in Arsenal's manager is unwavering. "When I talk about Arsenal I always talk from my heart first before my head," he said. "It is going to be difficult without [Emmanuael] Adebayor, and what has happened to [Samir] Nasri [who this week suffered a broken leg], was not what Arsène was hoping for either. I just hope they can win the league and everything else they can, because I know how much Arsène wants that. I think it can happen this year."

Wenger's ideal sometimes resembles a kind of Barcelona-lite, in terms of style and in his preference for small ball players, and Henry admits it is harder to succeed with this approach in England than Spain. "The Premier League is another story," he said with a knowing look. "Everybody knows how it is to play away games – raining, cold, kick-off at 12 o'clock. It's not easy. One thing you have to say about Spain is everyone tries to play football no matter what. How many times with Arsenal we went away and the other team was just trying to launch balls into the box and have a throw-in like a corner? If you go and play at Stoke City you are going to have what you're going to have. So you have to be tall and battle."

Time for Arsenal to spend some of that Adebayor money on a tall, battling midfielder, then? "The only thing I want to see as an Arsenal lover is for the team to win, whatever the players," Henry replied diplomatically.

Henry is back in London for the Wembley Cup, but injury will deprive him of a chance to re-aquaint himself with old rivals Tottenham tomorrow evening

Arsenal and Manchester United both expect to be fined around £5,000 by Uefa tomorrow for "improper conduct of their supporters" during the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium in May. Arsenal will be punished after a supporter struck Nemanja Vidic with a plastic drinks bottle while Manchester United are also set to be sanctioned after one of their fans threw a smoke bomb on to the pitch during their 3–1 victory.

A plethora of reports in the British media yesterday suggested that Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri's two-month injury lay-off was accompanied by a fresh sidelining of Eduardo da Silva, however, this was news to the player, who later told Croatian press that he was "completely ready physically".

Manager Arsene Wenger clarified the situation when he stated on the club's official website that, "Eduardo should play on Monday," which is a stark contrast to the quote attributed to the Frenchman yesterday, "... in two months Eduardo will be back as well."

Eduardo, a Brazil-born Croatian international, has also been pictured training with the rest of the Arsenal squad while Wenger instils his preparatory ethos into the side during the club's annual tour of Austria.

Regarding his apparent injury, 'Dudu' as he is affectionately known, expressed surprise, "I do not know anything about the statement made by my coach. It can not be true. I am completely ready physically.
Arsenal began their Austria trip in fine form as they beat SC Colombia by seven goals to one.

Arsenal have completed a deal that sees Pedro Botelho go on loan to Celta Vigo for a season in order for him to adapt to European football while he waits for a work permit.

The Gunners signed the 19-year-old Brazilian defender in 2007 from Figueirense and then immediately loaned him to Salamanca to gain experience, Sky Sports have confirmed.

A second campaign was then lined up at the Spanish club, but that was cut short last season and Botelho has only been able to train and play in friendlies since.

Now the left-back returns to the Spanish league and will take a step closer to qualifying for a Spanish passport as he spends the year with Balaidos.

Celta boss Eusebio Sacristan is looking to rebuild the Galician club's squad as they bid to make a return to the top flight after being relegated two seasons ago.

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry believes his former club, Arsenal, can still mount an assault on the Premier League title this season despite the seemingly uphill task ahead of manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners sold one of their main attacking outlets in Emmanuel Adebayor for £25 million to Manchester City last week and Wenger has been made aware that the club don't have the financial muscle of some of their closest rivals.

With influential midfielder Samir Nasri ruled out for at least two months after breaking his leg during the club's tour of Austria, the problems appear to be mounting at the Emirates Stadium.

But former fans favourite Henry, who scored a record 226 goals during his time in north London, is adamant that Arsenal are still capable of winning the Premier League title.

"It's not going to be easy without Adebayor, obviously, and what happened with Nasri was unlucky, but I still believe they can win the League," the 31-year-old is quoted as saying in The Daily Mail.

"That is always my feeling about my old club. It won’t be easy because there are teams who are doing it every time, but you never know.

"I remember when I left everyone was saying it wouldn’t be the same, but they ended up having a great season and nearly won the League.

"It can happen this year. I know eve­rybody is saying this and that but in my heart I will always talk like that.

Henry will be hoping to make an appearance for Barcelona against Arsenal's fierce north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Wembley Cup tomorrow evening and the French international believes that his former manager is more than capable of working with a shoestring budget.

"Arsene and Arse­nal have proven so many times they can win without spending a lot of money," Henry added.

"People talk about the top four but the only thing that matters to me is who is going to be top and I know that’s how Arsene sees it as well."

Still an Arsenal legend, despite currently playing for Barcelona, Thierry Henry has encouraged the Gunners to hold onto their captain, Cesc Fabregas.

"It is vital," Henry said in a press conference today.

"He's the Arsenal captain, he's young, and I am sure he wants to give something back to the club. Knowing Cesc, that's really important."

Despite Barca being at the top of the list of names linked to the midfielder, Henry made it very clear that it is not yet the time for the 22-year-old to join the current European champions.

Having enjoyed a terrific eight years with the London-based club, the Frenchman concluded with a statement from the heart, stating that Arsenal should keep their heads up and focus on finishing first in the English top-tier.

"My feeling for Arsenal is that I don't talk about being in the top four, I talk about winning the league," he said.

Arsenal and Manchester United are both set to be fined by UEFA for "improper conduct of their supporters" during the Champions League semi-final second leg at The Emirates.

According to The Guardian, The Gunners' fans will be punished for throwing a plastic bottle at Nemanja Vidic as the Red Devils were celebrating their first goal.

Meanwhile, United will be fined for a smoke bomb thrown onto the pitch by one of their fans.

However, given both clubs' exemplary previous record, the fine is likely to be a minimal one, somewhere in the region of £5,000.

Arsenal have been alerted by the news that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has rejected a move to Stuttgart, and could be set to make a move.

Huntelaar looked to be on the verge of joining Stuttgart, but the German club eventually lost patience given his failure to make a final decision, and cancelled the deal.

Now, according to The Sun, Arsenal will try and tempt Huntelaar, who is thought to favour a move to The Premier League. The Gunners are reportedly ready to offer a fee of around €19million.

However, they will face competition from London rivals Tottenham, who have also confirmed their interest in the Dutchman.