Thierry Henry’s return could prove just the tonic they need
Arsenal’s rampant 5-0 victory over Porto last night did alleviate some of the pressure on Arsene Wenger’s lack of striking options. Yet could a return of Arsenal hero Thierry Henry be the just the tonic for the Gunners striker problems?
Arsenal’s performance last night was majestic. It had all the hallmarks of Wenger’s football philosophy, crisp short passing, clever movement and unpredictable speed. It was the sort of performance Arsenal constantly threatens to perform yet lack the killer instinct. Take for example the 3-1 victory over Burnley last Saturday. Hat-trick hero Nicklas Bendtner should have had about four but could not find the net. He just had one of those days. The 3-1 scoreline flattered Burnley considerably. Since Robin Van Persie’s injury Arsenal have looked lightweight upfront. Bendtner’s injury too over the New Year hampered Arsenal’s progress considerably. Against Chelsea and Manchester United they lacked a goal scorer who could win them matches.
I’m pretty sure as the season turns onto the final bend an Arsenal performance where they just cannot find a killer second goal and an opponent equalises will occur. It happens far too much to a side that play by far the best football in the Premier League. So could a move for Thierry Henry be exactly what Arsenal requires? As farfetched as this seems stay with me, because it could be a good prospect for the Gunners and Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry is not having a happy time of it over at Barcelona at the moment. His form has been heavily criticised for not only France but Barcelona where Henry has lost his place in the side. Following France’s 0-2 defeat to Spain last week in an international friendly, Henry was booed as he was substituted. It was a particularly poor performance from the former Gunner who told the French press ‘I was short of form, I had no rhythm, and was seen in a game against a big team where you run after the ball,’ In 22 appearances for Barcelona this season Henry has only scored 3 goals. What must be taken into consideration is that when he is given a game, he plays on the left. Not as a central striker. Still this is nowhere near the 19 he scored last season.
What is appearing clearer is that the 32 year old is on his way out of Barcelona in the summer. A lack of trust between himself and manager Josep Guardiola which sees him dropped from the team for the likes of youth product Pedro. Injuries have additionally taken their toll on the aging Henry. Mentally Thierry Henry looks spent at Barcelona and for France.
After the World Cup it seems likely Thierry Henry will retire from international football and a move away from the Spanish giants. I think an Arsenal return should not be discarded. Obstacles to such a move would be present. Wenger’s obsession with not liking anyone over the age of thirty would have to be challenged. Though this appears to be not as rigid as before with the signing of Sol Campbell and a mooted two year extension offer towards aging centre back William Gallas. Henry would likely have to accept a one year deal and this may not sit well with the talented Frenchman. Furthermore an awareness from Thierry Henry himself that he is not the player he was at 27 when was carving up the Premier League is needed. A guaranteed starting place is not assured.
Yet there are so many things right with a possible deal. Claims have been leveled at Arsenal that they lack a winning mentality. An elder statesman who has been there and done it with excellent leadership skills. Who better a player than the magnitude of Thierry Henry? A World Cup, Champions League and two time Premier League winner to mention but a few of his accolades. The Frenchman is a striker of quality who will score goals despite his aging body and past injuries. A return of Thierry Henry to Arsenal would be something of a dream for the fans of the North London side. Where else better for him to finish his career than at a place where he is idolized as a hero? Arsenal were sensational last night, but that doesn’t take away the fact they require another striker. Thierry Henry is going to be available this summer. Without the burden of international football and a fresh start for the Frenchman, Arsenal and Henry could be a match made in heaven, yet again.
Do you think Arsenal should re-sign Thierry Henry in the summer?
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I’d have him back tomorrow.
Henry left us with fantastic memories and a goals record that is unlikely to be broken.It would be a shame if he returned and was only a shadow of his former self.Also if you remember in his last season with us he did show some petulance and upset some of the young players . Maybe we should look for a younger and hungrier player for next year.
the french fans quiet rightly booed henry last week, whether its because he is past it as a footballer or the handball against the republic of Ireland, best leave him where he is i say
I loved him to pieces when he was a goooner but he didn’t believe in the dream and went off to chase his pot of gold elsewhere.He should have stayed and guided the youngsters along and maybe we would have won trophies.He can’t come back now just because he is not wanted where he is. He was wanted and needed by us when he left….so why should we have him back now when we don’t need him ?
What a load of ole SH*T . . . . ba ah ah ah ah
Henry gave The Gunners the best years of his footballing life but they have now past, so lets leave this one now and move on to trying to find the next fantastic no.14
totally agree with Mark,but who is the quarter wit called wengerball ,what is he on about
Never in a million years should this strutting ponce be allowed back at Arsenal.
This is Fabregas’s team. Henry is a dinosaur.
AT THE MOMENT ARSENAL IS A TEAM AND WHEN THIERRY HENRY ARRIVES EVERYTHING WILL REVOLVE AROUND HIM, HE HAD HIS CHANCE AND WE DONT NEED HIM.
come on thierry greatest player ever and just what arsenal need. he will add real passion to the immensly talented bunch we already have. and lets face it cesc wont stay forever.
Henry’s return would be a massive step backwards. The team and the players have long moved on and we have many young forwards coming through and Chamakh to come.
No doubting the man’s legend, but that’s how it should stay.
Why not bring him back? Of course he would not be the same player he was back then, but he has goals in him. Look at Sol’s return, he was an absaloute steal and if Barca do take fab, i’d love to see Henry come back as part of the deal.
If Henry is to be of any further use to the Arsenal it will be as a coach/manager not a player.
i think it really depends ,if henry will play competitive club football again after the world cup because mentally i think he is out of it right now , he also is considering going to new york 2 play soccer where it is not as competitive , but he is arsenals greatest player ever so i mean i wouldnt look at it taking a step backwards because arsenal aint won nuthing yet , they been goin backwards themselves ever since , great performances r fine but trophies r what matters , henry had a chip on his shoulder when he left he wanted to win the champions league the only trophy he has never won he has dat now , and with the chances arsenal create henry could score 20 plus goals atleast still with this offense things have changed henry would be a leader help the young guys talk bout his experience wid barca help mentor some of the young kids, and also could be the person 2 kick start arsenal 2 glory once again , because this team will make henry better , because it aint the same team he left , he aint the same player but the team is better and so he does not need 2 be as good as he once was carrying a team , this is a bit like whats goin on wid iverson right now if u watch basketball u understand but truth henry will have plenty of teams after him , but arsenal will be the only place he will play happy so is it time for the king to return who knows only time can tel henry will turn 33 so he has atleast 3 good footballing yrs left in him before he will be decline so shouldnt he finish his career in the place he loves barca used him no dont need him , eto left his friend maybe henry should have left as well as barcas plans were goin 2 a different direction spanish teams r not loyal like english clubs they will spit u out the minute they dont need u no more , arsenal are probably that one experienced player away from a glory henry maybe be that person but there r manny obstacles , how much does henry play? they have a lot of strikers already do they get rid of some put players in positions they dont like? a lot of irish players who play in the priemiership will not forget ? and also im appauled and france henry tarnished his career so that france would get in2 the world cup , if france didnt win it would have effected them economically 200-300 mill would have been lost cuz they didnt have the world cup they needed it , henry saved france economically also he may have did it in controversial fashion but 2 me it was heroic couldnt take the chance he accepted he did it but still he knew what he did and new the consequences and the people boo him he deserves a medal
i’d welcome TH14′s return but where does he fit in our 4-3-3 system? we cannot just get him back for sentimental reasons, can we? is thierry willing to take up something like bergkamp’s role in his final 2 seasons? can titi stand being on the bench all the time?
Thank you ver very much, Matthew, for putting this question out in the open. Throughout the January window I was praying, meditating and fasting for the return of the king. When AW was acting cool, as always, I was hoping he would surprise the footballing world and all the sceptics by unveiling Henry as the second signing. I mean, surely if he had the wisdom to re-sign Sol, he could also tap from the same space to re-sign TH14. Quite clearly, and even more so lately, Henry wasn’t being appreciated at Barca – he is always the last option in attack. His ability to adjust to not being the go-to guy after such an illustriuous career as the point of attack, not too many other players could have stayed at the top in any capacity. In short, he still has the movement and sharpness to lead the attack. As one respondent noted, in his last season at Arsenal, the team was very ordinary, that’s why he had to carry all the responsibility. Currently, the team has improved tremendously, so he can simply slot in and concentrate only on finishing the numerous chances that will come his way. At worst, he can always chip in with those devastating legendary assists. Another Bergkamp? Sounds good too.
shut up. you don’t know anything.
Henry is past it. As much as we all love him, and will always remember what he has achieved for us, it would be a terrible mistake to have him back.
I respect the player, but he’s totally out of shape, and we are doing very well without him. The only way I could see him back is in the coaching staff.
I thought Mmeli hit the nail on the head with his comments initially!! If we signed Henry in January that, like the Sol Campbell deal, would have been an amazing coup assuming he was fit and ready to play!! That would have massively improved our options up front for the big games and you know Fergie would have been shitting himself at the prospect of yet another Henry looping curler!! However signing him in the summerwhen we’ll have our existing strikers and possibly Chamakh vying for places in the starting XI IMO is not feasible and would not represent a good investment from the club. It would be a purely sentimental signing and Wenger is not one to put sentiment before prudence. Take the Vieira case as a prime example.. Wenger could have signed him in January but it wasn’t worth it to bring him in to warm the bench!! That’s why Wenger won’t sign Henry!!!
what arsenal need is afresh striker,aserne wenger is agenius.he can turn thomas vermeleam into aworld class striker,thomas got pace,speed,physic,height,good in air and an eye for goal.henry is good but his return might descomfort the arsenal dressing room.give thomas achance
I think we should go for him – to say that first team football chances were not ‘assured’ is not a perfect lure though and unfounded anyway. Do you really think Bendtner and Eduardo stand in front of Henry? Not a chance. RVP and Thierry would be great in my opinion. Henry could teach Vela a thing or too as well and then off to the U.S to finish off.
Wenger has shown in the pat if you are class you are welcome at Arsenal. Bergkamp is the prime examle of this, he played on well in to him 30s.
Do us all a favour Wenger and get Theirry back in his beloved Arsenal shirt….TH14 forever!!!!
So Dom you’re saying that you’d rather have Henry “probably” good for one or maximum two seasons and sacrifice Bendtner’s Arsenal career which could potentially be amazing for the next 8-9 years!! Very small-minded thinking and un-Wenger-like!! I would love Henry back at Arsenal but it’s more likely to be a hinderance than a step in the right direction for the team!! Let’s be like the great professor and think with our heads and not our hearts!! I would welcome him back in a few years as Dennis Bergkamp’s assistant manager!!!
Henry is our legend,he leave the memory tht will alwys stay forever with us. I also like Titi to return to Arsenal coz we need him to teach our young players how to take free kicks n train walcott some of his tricks coz the two have similarities bt walcott lucks ideas on wht to do with the ball.
id have him back straight away he is one of the 3 established players we need at arsenal along with a top goalkeeper and expeirenced centerback to bring a backbone to the team. reina because of premier expeirience and a fine stopper and cb either subottec or mathew upsen even.
i didn’t like it when he used to hug John Terry in the tunnel before the game.
Made me feel queasy.
Of course Henry was fantastic,his time is gone now arsenal need da young blood…
I would love him back but not if it costs us CESC!
I think he will be quite expensive and if he does come back Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela, and Theo would waste away on the bench!
I think we need some one younger to stay for a few seasons and unite the squad a bit more like Rooney for United!
Tony, you clearly are not an Arsenal fan so go back to the Spurs forums. Henry a ponce? – i bet you didn’t say that when he was scoring 30 goals a seasson and winning us trophies. Have some respect please. Shoud he come back? Why not. Based on our current crop of strikers he we easily be the best! He would be a support to striker if we got someone decent but until then he would be vauable to Arsenal.