Henry, the genuine galactico, closer to new Arsenal deal

After a night when the galacticos era ended - "lose the years, lose the kilos", was the headline in one Spanish newspaper yesterday remarking on the ageing, overweight Real Madrid - Arsenal's own superstar appeared to inch closer to committing his future to the club.

"We're a good team with good togetherness and you surely saw where my desire is," Thierry Henry said. "The way I was playing is the most important thing, not all the time talking about my contract." The Arsenal captain, whose goal in the first leg settled the tie, has been offered a five-year deal and has indicated a desire to stay. But what is also true is that it is unlikely to be signed until the success of Arsenal's season is defined.

He is wanted in Barcelona, and had been inclined to go, and also Madrid, especially with the huge clear-out that has to be undertaken this summer. More realistically, Real expect to acquire Ashley Cole and, if Fabio Capello returns - he and Rafael Benitez are favourites for the post - it is understood the Italian will want to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic with him from Juventus and Internazionale's Adriano.

That could narrow Chelsea's transfer targets. The Premiership champions also still covet Henry but hold out little hope of getting him. If he leaves, he will go to Spain but - as with Steven Gerrard at Liverpool last season - that will not and cannot happen if Arsenal win the European Cup. But, just like the speculation over his future, the Frenchman was clear that people should not get "carried away" about Arsenal's victory over Real to reach the quarter-finals. "We need to take it step by step," he said.

Henry's right. Arsenal, despite their vibrancy, are still young and inexperienced in vital areas and few would argue with the assessment of bookmakers who yesterday ranked them as sixth favourites to win the competition.

Indeed, Henry was able to joke about the callowness around him. "The name Real Madrid can scare people," he said. "At the end, the young players were running to get their shirts." During the game " we were focused on the game and making our tackles. At the end maybe they were looking at their stars ... but I don't mind that."

There was, amid his praise of the jobs done by the "very special" youngsters such as Cesc Fabregas, the "outstanding" Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, a cautionary reminder. "Obviously you get confidence from winning at the Bernabeu," Henry said, "but then you get reminded that you lose 1-0 at Blackburn. That's what football is all about and that's why you need to keep cool."

Such calmness has not always been a quality associated with the goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, although his performances this season have been significantly better. His stunning save to deny Raul, was, the German said, "crucial". "As a footballer you live for moments like those - the tension, the adrenalin, the passion. And I didn't worry about facing people like Ronaldo and the other Real strikers. It made me more focused and concentrated."

Last season there were doubts about Lehmann's future, especially when he was left out for 10 games, but now the 36-year-old has been offered a new one-year contract and indicated that he will sign it. "It would be a mistake to leave," Lehmann said, adding that even when he was dropped he did not consider a move.

"No, I always wanted to fight back. I was sad to be on the outside but I thought about things. When I came here there were a lot of stars. Now we have changed the team and as an experienced player you know what to do." Lehmann admitted that when he first arrived at Arsenal he had a "risky style" but has now kept six successive clean sheets in the Champions' League, just one short of Milan's record.

* David Beckham will miss Real's La Liga game at Valencia on Saturday after straining his groin before the Highbury match. "I felt something in the warm-up but carried on best I could. I won't be with the team for the next five days," he said.

Quarter-final qualifiers

Arsenal (England)

Barcelona (Spain)

Benfica (Portugal)

Juventus (Italy)

Lyon (France)

Milan (Italy)

Villarreal (Spain)

Inter (Italy) or Ajax (Neth)

(Inter (2) v Ajax (2) play next Tuesday in Milan to decide last place; draw for quarter-finals 11am today in Nyon, Swit)