LONDON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Arsenal talisman Thierry Henry ended months of speculation about his future by pledging his future to the North London club on Friday.

    The 28-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract, had a year left on his former contract and had been linked with a move to Barcelona but has opted to stay and lead Arsenal in their new stadium.

    "At one point it crossed my mind to leave," he told a news conference, two days after Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Barca.

    "But I think with my heart and my heart told me to stay."

    Henry said Arsenal's performance in the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona had been key to his decision to commit his future to the club.

    "We can be so proud of what we did," he said.

    "The game reassured me of one thing I wanted to know - how far I can go with that team. They showed me they are a team with heart and lots of quality.

    "In the past year the fans have been more than amazing and after the way we lost on Wednesday, I couldn't let them down.

    "It was another thing to add and a positive thing to make me stay."

    Henry also paid tribute to manager Arsene Wenger and vice-chairman David Dein.

    "There are so many things about why I decided to stay. Mr Dein, Arsene, the club, the fans, I just thought I could not let them down."

    Henry joined Arsenal from Juventus in August 1999 and has gone on to become the club's record goalscorer.

    He was recently voted Football Writers' Association player of the year for the third time. Enditem