Former Arsenal star Thierry Henry - reuters

paris (ap)

Thierry Henry's move to Barcelona has paid off. For Arsenal, that is. Sitting two points clear at the top of the English Premier League, the Gunners are doing just fine without their former superstar.

The French striker, who established himself as one of the game's greats in a Gunners shirt, now wears the blue and maroon stripes of Barcelona. While the Spanish club has stuttered to one win in three games and already trails traditional rival Real Madrid by four points, Arsenal looks even stronger without Henry.

"It was important that we started the season well after losing Thierry Henry in the summer and, while a player like that will never be forgotten, we are moving on now," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said after his team's 3-1 victory at North London neighbours Tottenham on Saturday.

"Of course we have not forgotten about Thierry but we have shown that the team is blossoming and growing," Wenger said in a message to the Gunners fans.

"That was planned, of course, but you never know how fast it will happen."

Although Henry set a new goalscoring record for Arsenal (226 goals in 364 matches) and set up countless goals for his teammates, there was a feeling around the club that he left at the right time.

Maybe the Gunners became too reliant on Henry and maybe Henry became too big for Arsenal.