Success without Henry ARSENAL midfielder Cesc Fabregas says Thierry Henry's departure has given the team the freedom to play without fear. The Gunners were tipped to struggle after striker Henry's exit to Barcelona but they are top of the Premier League. "Henry intimidated us," 20-year-old Fabregas told the Daily Mail. "He is a great player but it was not easy to play alongside him. We were a bit inhibited by him -- dependent on everything he wanted to do and his demands. Now it is different. Everyone was saying that this year without Henry we would be nowhere and that has motivated everyone." Fabregas has been in inspirational form for the Gunners so far this season and has already scored six goals in nine games. He was again on the mark as he grabbed a goal in helping his side to thrashing Derby 5-0 and he insisted the doom merchants only served to galvanise Arsenal when Henry left. Meanwhile, Arsenal claim their new position as Britain's richest football club shows they do not need foreign investment. Latest figures reveal the club's turnover has broken the �200m barrier after the move to the Emirates Stadium. "These results demonstrate we really don't need any outside investment," managing director Keith Edelman said. "We secured all the players we wanted in the summer and manager Arsene Wenger did not spend his budget." The Gunners have been subject to takeover rumours after Alisher Usmanov increased his share in the club to 21 per cent. The Uzbek businessman's company, Red and White, is chaired by former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who claims foreign investment is needed to compete with the likes of Chelsea. But Edelman said: "We are looking at a position where we don't believe we need additional monies. "We had �73.9m cash at the year's end and we are telling people today we've got increased cash balances at this juncture." The move to the new stadium from Highbury means the Gunners are now generating more than �3m a game. Arsenal can now argue that this brings them into the big league of European earners, just behind Real Madrid. "Manchester United will have to put on another �32m from last year to match the Gunners. Chelsea will have to show an increase of nearly �50m; Liverpool �80m and Tottenham �127m to match Arsenal," says Bose. Crash cancels bout AUDLEY Harrison's ring comeback has been postponed after the former Olympic champion was involved in a serious car crash in Florida. The 35-year-old was due to appear on the undercard of Clinton Woods' IBF light heavyweight defence against Julio Gonzalez in Sheffield on Saturday. But after sustaining wrist and shoulder injuries plus a head trauma he has withdrawn from the fight. Harrison said: "Thank God everyone involved in the crash survived." The Sydney 2000 super heavyweight gold medallist had just finished training at Buddy McGirt's gymnasium in Vero Beach and was driving with trainer Kelvyn Travis when a car pulled out in front of him. Both Harrison and the driver of the other car were taken by ambulance to the Indian River Memorial Hospital with non- life threatening injuries but were later released. Travis also received cuts and bruises in the incident but did not require hospital treatment. Harrison added: "I'm waiting for the results of the MRI Scan to see if I've ruptured my pectoral muscle in my chest which is currently in a sling, but hope to be back in action once I'm given the all clear to resume training. "I was feeling buoyant about getting in the ring next week but my hand is so swollen I've been told by the doctor I'm out for four to six weeks." Harrison has not fought since a spectacular knock-out by fellow Briton Michael Sprott in February when he vowed to fight on as questions arose about his future in the sport. He was due to face domestic journeyman Paul King in his comeback fight in Sheffield. De la Hoya wants Hatton BOXING legend Oscar de la Hoya plans to put his retirement on ice and set up a showdown with Ricky Hatton next year. The 34-year-old American has mapped out a three-fight plan before quitting boxing for good and it could end with him facing Briton Hatton next autumn. De la Hoya's plan needs Hatton to beat Floyd Mayweather in their upcoming clash on 8 December in Las Vegas. "Let's put it this way, I'm crossing my fingers for Hatton," De la Hoya said. "I believe that Ricky Hatton has a wonderful shot." De la Hoya's Golden Boy company is promoting the sell-out clash between Mayweather and Hatton at the MGM Grand Arena. But he still has plans to continue his career inside the ring. "I'm not retired and I believe that my body can still handle the big fights," he said. "I want to fight three times next year, with two big fights in May and September. It isn't out of the question that I'll meet Ricky Hatton next year. Mexican-American hero De la Hoya has won 10 world titles in six divisions across 43 fights and suffered just five defeats in his illustrious career, all of them to genuine top-grade campaigners in their respective weight divisions. His last win came against Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light middleweight title in May 2006, but he subsequently lost the belt in the richest fight of all time, to Mayweather, almost a year to the day. Stoner's first world title CASEY Stoner secured his first MotoGP world title at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Ducati rider Stoner only needed to finish ahead of Yamaha's Valentino Rossi to claim the championship with three races remaining. And with Rossi struggling back in 13th, sixth place was enough for 21-year- old Stoner to bag the points he needed. Italian Loris Capirossi won the race on a Ducati ahead of Frenchman Randy De Puniet in second place. Stoner, who claimed eight championship wins over the season, stretched his lead over five-times world champion Rossi to an unbeatable 83 to become the second youngest ever MotoGP title winner. Starting ninth on the grid, he made a flying start on the wet track and moved up to fourth ahead of Rossi at the first corner. Anthony West also made a storming start but was forced to take a ride-through penalty after jumping the start. Rossi slipped to seventh at the back of the leading pack, but quickly closed the gap on Stoner and passed the Australian with 12 laps remaining as both riders opted to remain out on wet tires as the track began to dry. Stoner switched bikes to slick tires with 10 laps remaining and Rossi responded a lap later, with the Australian dropping back to eighth and the Italian slotting into second place behind compatriot Capirossi. But Rossi was forced to pull into the pit lane for a second time with eight to go with an apparent front end problem, which saw him slip down the standings as Stoner comfortably cruised home to take the crown ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in three weeks time. Capirossi secured a hat-trick of victories at Motegi in 47 minutes 05.484 seconds ahead of Randy De Puniet by 10.853secs, with Toni Elias third. Sylvain Guintoli finished fourth ahead of Marco Melandri. Menchov on the podium RABOBANK's Denis Menchov has won the Tour of Spain for the second time, but this time he celebrated on the podium. The 29-year-old Russian was handed the title in 2005 when Spain's Roberto Heras was stripped of victory after testing positive for EPO. Menchov, who led the race after taking the gold jersey on stage nine, said: "It makes all the difference in the world to win it like this. A solid win was important. Now maybe I can crack the Tour de France, too." Carlos Sastre of Team CSC finished second while Samuel Sanchez of Euskatel-Euskadi was third. The 21st and final stage of the tour was a relatively flat run from Rivas Vaciamadrid to Madrid and was won by Daniele Bennati, who finished half a tire length clear of Alessandro Petacchi. In addition to his tour victory, Menchov won the grey jersey as the event's top climber.
