Arsene Wenger has hinted that Thierry Henry will return
to Arsenal in some capacity in the future but it appears unlikely
that the man voted the club’s greatest ever player will return to
don his boots.
Henry left Arsenal to join Barcelona in the summer of
2007 and The Gunners have missed his drive, experience and
all-round excellence with Wenger even admitting his side may have
won the league last season had they held onto their
captain.
But the Gunners boss expects the striker – who scored a record
226 goals in 380 games in Arsenal colours – to return to the club,
perhaps in a coaching capacity.
"Is there ever a chance Thierry will come back? Of course,” said
Wenger.
“This club always wants players of his quality to come back. It
will be difficult for him to come back as a player because in 2010
he will be 33.
"But he has a very strong link with the club. He had a massive
influence here - and we had a massive influence on his career."
Reflecting on Henry’s departure to Barcelona two years ago,
Wenger lamented the impact that the captain’s departure had on a
side that so nearly took the Premier League title before Henry’s
replacement, Eduardo, suffered a horrific injury.
“It was his decision,” Wenger added. “I tried to convince him to
stay.
“He said: ‘The way you are going you will have a great team in
two or three years. But I can’t wait that long. I am 30 years
old.’
“Last year we had 83 points and with him we might have got the
extra points that would have won us the championship.”