Gunnerblog

Henry’s pride will not allow him to fail

551 comments December 30th, 2011

And so, Arsene Wenger has taken the unusual step of all but confirming the arrival of Thierry Henry before the paperwork is yet complete:

“For two months it certainly will happen. I don’t take care of the agreement and insurance and that is not completed.

We cannot announce anything [now] because the paperwork is not done.”

Only Arsenal fans could greet the probable return their record goalscorer and arguably greatest ever player with anything approaching dismay.  I remember when Liverpool signed a washed-up, overweight Robbie Fowler in January 2006 and heartily heralded the return of “God”.  Arsenal fans seem comparatively nonplussed.

I understand why.  Whatever state he might be in, Henry can only come in for a maximum of two months, and after February we’ll be back to relying on Park and Chamakh.  Head over to arseblog.com and listen to today’s arsecast, where you’ll hear me discuss my desire for Arsene to bring in someone who can bring in someone who can provide legitimate and long-term support for Robin van Persie.

Let me just briefly collude with the critics and say that given a straight choice, I’d probably rather take Lukasz Podolski for four years than Thierry Henry for two months.  However, the decision to bring in Thierry suggests that Arsene feels his primary targets are not going to be available in January.  There is no point replacing his already substandard attacking options with another substandard player.

However Thierry’s physical condition may have degraded, he is still Thierry Henry.  You have to remember that in electing to come back, the player himself has everything to lose and nothing to gain.  Is that a risk he would take if he felt he was genuinely past it?  I suspect not.  In my time as an Arsenal fan, I have never seen a player so image conscious.  Everything – his interviews, his transfer flirtations, even his celebrations – were expertly stage-managed.  It was as much his intelligence off the pitch, as well as his brilliance on it, that helped make him a living legend at Arsenal.  Over the past few years, he has had many opportunities for the perfect goodbye, including that emotional appearance as a Red Bulls player at the Emirates Cup this summer.  A player so conscious of his own legacy would not dare jeopardise that by coming back only to depart with a whimper.  If he’s coming back, it’s because he believes he can make one last, lasting contribution.

I was fortunate enough to be stood just yards away when Henry broke down in tears at the unveiling of a statue in his honour just a couple of weeks ago.  As he composed himself, the fans around me burst in to song: “Arsene – sign him up”.

Arsene was listening, and he has.  The King is returning.  Fire off the 14-cannon salute, and for God’s sake, smile.