Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he can understand New York Red Bulls insisting on Thierry Henry's return.

Wenger is disappointed to see Henry leave, but says it is only fair to the Red Bulls to allow the striker to return in good time for the new MLS season.

"We wanted to keep him for two weeks longer but it wasn't possible," he told arsenal.com. "Thierry is captain of their team and they start the championship in two weeks.

"It is difficult for a player to come the day before the championship starts when he is captain of the club and has not played at all with the team in pre-season.

"I believe that it was just common sense. I am OK with that because I accepted that agreement at the start."