Thierry Henry: No way Arsenal can win Premier League if Cesc Fabregas is sold

Thierry Henry fears Arsenal will be stripped of their title credentials if they surrender Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

The Spanish midfielder has already revealed his hunger to win trophies at club level this summer - piling the pressure on boss Arsene Wenger to build a team capable of doing so.

Barca managed to lure a disillusioned Henry from Arsenal two years ago after the Gunners failed to land any silverware.

Now the striker - back in London to play Spurs in the Wembley Cup tonight - believes his old club cannot afford to make the same mistake with their new skipper.

Asked how important it is for Arsenal to keep Fabregas, Henry said: "It's vital. He is the Arsenal captain, he's young and I am sure he wants to give something back to the club. Knowing Cesc, that is pretty important to him. It is vital to keep Cesc."

Although Arsenal fans are begging Wenger to spend big to bring in some experienced talent this summer, Henry has called for them to support his former manager's belief in the young players he has nurtured.

Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Johan Djourou and Theo Walcott are all expected to take a bigger role in the club's bid for trophies next season.

And although Arsenal have lost Samir Nasri to a broken leg and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, they have Tomas Rosicky back from injury.

Henry added: "It was not easy to lose Adebayor, and what happened to Nasri was not what Arsene wanted, but I just hope they can win the league.

"It won't be easy because you have other teams doing things all the time, but you never know what will happen.

"I remember when I left people were saying it wouldn't be the same Arsenal, but they went on to have a great season and nearly won the league.

"Then last season everybody said they had found the team to win the league and it didn't happen. So you just can't tell.

"But I hope they win the league because I know how much Arsene wants that, and I think it can happen this year."

Former Gunner Ashley Cole believes a revamped Manchester City could blast the north Londoners out of the top four with their experience and quality.

But Henry insists Arsenal are setting their own sights much higher than fourth anyway.

He added: "My knowledge of Arsenal Football Club is you don't talk about being in the top four, you talk about winning the league. They are a big club.

"That is how I saw it when I was there and that is still how I see it. Arsenal have proven so many times that they can win things without spending a lot of money so hopefully they can do it again.

"You hear people discussing who is going to be in the top four, but the only thing that matters for me is who is going to be top.

"I know that is how Arsene sees it, and that is how he is going to speak to the guys.

"The only thing I want to see as an Arsenal lover is to see the team win. That is the most important thing at the end of the day. I really wish Arsenal can win something this year - I hope it is the league and not the Champions League, for obvious reasons!"