Henry completed his £16.1million move to the Nou Camp on Monday afternoon, bringing down the curtain on an eight-year spell in which he became the club's leading scorer and lifted the Premier League title twice.

Wenger told www.arsenal.com: "It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing. On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him the very best for the future."

The France striker, who arrived from Juventus for £10.5million in 1999, scored a stunning 226 goals for the Gunners and was a key part of the side which went unbeaten in the league in the 2003-04 season.

Henry also collected two FA Cup winners' medals, won the Premier League 'Golden Boot' four times and was voted the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year twice the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year on three occasions.

And Wenger believes there is no doubt the 29-year-old will go down as one of the all-time greats to have played for the north London club.

He added: "Thierry has been tremendous for us since he arrived in 1999. He has excelled both as part of a team and individually. In short, he has become an Arsenal legend.

"Personally, I would like to thank Thierry for the huge contribution he has made to the club's success over the past eight years.

"To his great credit, he has mixed skill and style together with an appetite for winning.

"This wonderful combination was integral to our historical 49 games unbeaten run and all the honours he won at Arsenal, together with Thierry becoming the club's record goalscorer - an achievement which in my view is unlikely to be surpassed."