Bent dig over Henry sale

Spurs striker believes Arsenal missed out

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 13th September 2007

Darren Bent Tottenham

Bent: Arsenal jibe

Darren Bent has cranked up the pressure ahead of the North London derby by claiming Arsenal allowed Thierry Henry to leave on the cheap.

The Tottenham striker moved to White Hart Lane on a £16.5million deal from Charlton just days after Henry moved to Barcelona for £16m.

And the England squad man believes the Gunners should have banked more from the sale of the brilliant France international.

Comparisons

He told Zoo magazine: "If it was me selling him, Thierry would be going for a lot more than that. Barca did well to get him for that price.

"I went to Spurs a couple of days after he went so comparisons between the two transfers were bound to happen. But I'm not worried by it - it's just the market.

"Barcelona managed to get Thierry for £16m and Spurs came and got me for £16.5m - it doesn't mean we're the same.

"It's what Tottenham were willing to pay and what Barca were willing to pay."

Ferocious

Bent is expecting a fiery atmosphere at White Hart Lane on Saturday as he prepares to experience his first North London derby.

He added: "I'm a London boy so this fixture is one of the big ones. You can see how much it means to people.

"I remember watching a Spurs v Arsenal derby on TV - it was ferocious."