Arsene Wenger has addressed the future, both immediate and long term, at Arsenal by insisting Thierry Henry will remain at the club next season while warning that any potential takeover by the American billionaire Stan Kroenke should not lead to the erosion of the established values and traditions held by the club.

This campaign may have degenerated into little more than a season of transition at Arsenal, with Wenger's side 23 points off leaders Manchester United before today's visit of West Ham, but Henry will still be at the club to lead their crop of youngsters in what the manager insists can be a Premiership title challenge next season.

Henry, who signed a four-year contract last summer, reacted to renewed claims that Barcelona, Internazionale and Real Madrid had been encouraged to bid for his services by visiting his manager before training yesterday to stress he is not seeking to leave.

"I had a chat with him this morning and it's clear he wants to stay, and I want him to stay as well," said Wenger, who had seen the France striker's impact nullified this season by a persistent sciatica problem before he was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a torn groin muscle sustained against PSV Eindhoven. "I was not concerned because I know the day Thierry wants to leave he will knock at my door and say: 'Listen, I want to go.'

"He is frustrated, but he wants to bounce back next year and have an outstanding season. It has been a difficult season for him, but I feel he has the same level of enthusiasm. He's had a bad season, he'd be the first to admit that, but Thierry played 50 games every year, eight years on the trot . . . you know that he'll not always be capable of that.

"This year came after the World Cup and Champions League finals. It was certainly too much for him and he needed a break. Maybe we underestimated (how tired he was), although I tried to protect him more this season than ever before. But you could see he was never as full in his movement. He can get better, because he is intelligent and he is class."

Wenger was insistent Arsenal's own brand of "class" and desire to maintain traditional values should not be affected should Kroenke's £65 million purchase of ITV's 9.9 per cent stake in the club prove the prelude to a full-scale takeover. The Frenchman has watched his established rivals fall into the hands of foreign businessmen, and only last December warned of the dangers of the trend to entice investment from abroad.

The Arsenal manager was quick to point out that 60 per cent of the club's shares remain in the hands of three people. "We will have to wait and see what his (Kroenke's) intentions are," he said. "But it's important Arsenal maintains its values - a bit of human class, distinction, respect for people and ambition to have a certain class in what we do - because they are what make the club so popular and that is beyond any investment."

Indeed, Wenger implied that he would be loth to spend lavishly on players in the summer, regardless of what investment was made in the interim.

"The temptation is always there but, at the moment, I am more concerned about developing the young players," he added. "Next year will be a decisive year for us to fight for the championship. That's the main target and, if that does not work, then it needs to be invested with much more money.

"For now, I don't think the club needs a big investment. There is a huge potential in this team, and I would be happy to go into next season with the same squad because we are in a growing process. If you look at this season, what we have to learn is to beat the teams we are expected to beat. That is down to maturity, and that will come."

Wenger admitted he may be prepared to allow unsettled midfield man Mathieu Flamini leave the club in the close season.

The 23-year-old has revealed he is considering his options because of a lack of first-team opportunities.

And Wenger said: "We have heard about Flamini, who is keen to go and play somewhere where he will get some more games. I'll regret it, but I feel at the moment we have to be understanding."

Guardian Service