Liverpool Owner John W Henry Is Right to Reject Arsenal Advances for Luis Suarez

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In the summer transfer saga which has had more turns than that maze in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Liverpool owner John W. Henry has finally seen fit to strike a decisive blow to any hopes Luis Suarez had of exchanging Anfield for the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal.

As reported by Andy Hunter in The Guardian:

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We are not going to sell Luis.

To sell to a rival for those positions, or one of them, would be ludicrous. Liverpool needs to be playing in Europe. It needs to be playing in the Champions League.

I'm unequivocal that we won't sell to Arsenal, whatever the bid is.

He won't be sold even if a foreign club comes in because we do not have time to sign a suitable replacement. It's a football reason. It's not about finances. That's why at this point, so late in the window, with everyone who's already moved or isn't moving, we can't replace him. So for football reasons we can't sell, and especially to Arsenal. 

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Henry, having seemingly waited until the moment where his words would have the greatest of significance, will hope that his intervention will put a clear end to the to-ing and fro-ing from all parties:

Simply put, Suarez will not be leaving Anfield and certainly not for Arsenal.

Of course, this being football, anything could still happen.

But if Henry goes back on his word now—having spoken with such power—there'll be uproar among supporters, far greater than anything the actions of the Uruguayan could cause.

So don't expect him to. His stance has been set. His feet are planted firm—and he is right.

Right to ensure that his club do not relinquish their most talented asset. Right not to let said asset leave for a figure that pales in what is unquestionably an inflated market. And right not to let Suarez head to the only club which Liverpool stand a realistic chance of catching if they're to get themselves back into the Champions League any time soon.

This saga isn't merely about a 26-year-old forward who scored 23 goals in 33 league games in 2012-13.

It isn't about arguably Liverpool's best striker since the iconic Kenny Dalglish.

It's about the entire club—how they see themselves—and where they see themselves going.

Opposing supporters like to remind Liverpool of their past successes and their recent failings.

Five European Cups and 18 English League Championships is some history. But recent seasons have no question seen them fall from where they want to be. No longer at European football's top table, nor regular challengers for the Premier League title.

The club want back in. The owner and manager have both spoken in recent times about how they remain a major player and how they want to get back to what they once were.

Selling the squad's best player isn't how you get there—especially to the club's rival, no less.

Last season saw the Reds finish seventh, 12 points behind the Champions League spots and fourth-place Arsenal. For those sides outside the Champions League places looking to break in—Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham—the Gunners are the side they're aiming for.

Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are too far ahead. They're pretty much nailed on to be the three challenging for the title this season. In respect to those three, the others are chasing shadows.

However Arsenal, having failed to strengthen this summer—bar the inexperienced Yaya Sanogo—are vulnerable. That they finished fourth last season was as much down to Spurs failings as their own strengths and whilst others have been striving to improve this summer, they've somewhat stood still.

Suarez was their main target, but not only would Liverpool be loathe to let him move to North London—to borrow from Henry—it'd be "ludicrous" if they did.

Why weaken yourselves whilst simultaneously strengthening your most likely conquest? It doesn't make sense on any footballing level, and it certainly gives the wrong message to supporters: "We are selling our best player to a rival, as we don't see ourselves as anything other than also-rans anymore. But remember to buy your season ticket. OK, thanks. "

No doubt there'll have been a temptation to cash in on a player who some would consider to be more trouble than he's worth—such are his list of past misdemeanors. But on the football pitch, he's a genuine world-class talent—hence why Arsenal have such an interest—and will remain an excellent option for manager Brendan Rodgers to have at his disposal this season.

And he will be at Rodgers' disposal when the remainder of his ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic last season has been served.

Whilst Suarez may want to move away and may be desperate for immediate Champions League football, expect him to knuckle down and to play for Liverpool once more—and expect him to give his all and not sulk.

Next summer, Suarez has a World Cup to play for (assuming Uruguay qualify) and he cannot expect to have nine months off before hopping on a plane to Brazil when Oscar Tabarez's other premium striking options—Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Abel Hernandez—are performing regularly.

Playing on his home continent when he'll be at his peak age is his best opportunity to produce magic on the international stage with La Celeste. He won't want to be sitting around watching on from elsewhere. It gives strength to Liverpool's position in keeping him to his contract.

Henry has acted with supremacy.

Unlike the supposed clause in Suarez's contract, there is nothing contentious about what Henry has said and the point he has made. Liverpool won't be held over a barrel, nor are they a feeder club for others. They want to return to former glories and are set on doing just that.

With eight days until the Premier League season kicks off with Liverpool playing host to Stoke City, the focus on Merseyside can now return to football and the challenge ahead: returning to the Champions League.

That's a challenge in which you can expect Suarez to play his part.