Goonersworld

Arsène Wenger says that while he would love to extend Thierry Henry’s loan spell, the striker must return to New York Red Bulls on February 16.

Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer has enjoyed a successful return to the Club, scoring twice in five appearances including the memorable winner against Leeds in the FA Cup third round.

But with the Red Bulls due to play their first game of the new Major League Soccer season on March 11, Henry must head back to the United States for pre-season training.

“There is clarification, it will be February 16 [when he returns]. The day after the game in Milan,” Wenger said.

“I would have loved him to stay for two more weeks but he has to go back. He is captain of the Red Bulls, so just to appear on the first day of the season would be unfair to them.

“We accepted at the start that we would release him on February 16 so we respect our word. He thinks as well that it would be too late [to remain for two more weeks].”

Wenger has been delighted with the “fantastic” impact Henry has made since his return to the Club, both on and off the pitch.

“He was happy to be here and all the players were happy to have him around,” he said.

“In training he looks better every week. He is now back to a fitness level comparable to all the other players. His movement in training makes me think it is a shame he does not play for the national team anymore.”

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:He was brought on to appease the fans and nothing more. How shrewdly Wenger diverted the attention away from a real back-up for RVP. I am a huge Henry fan but how many games did he play rather minutes. was he utilized to give rest to RVP ? No. As a club we always tend to paper over the cracks and the real issues are never addressed.

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:He was brought on to appease the fans and nothing more. How shrewdly Wenger diverted the attention away from a real back-up for RVP. I am a huge Henry fan but how many games did he play rather minutes. was he utilized to give rest to RVP ? No. As a club we always tend to paper over the cracks and the real issues are never addressed.

ChVint22 wrote:

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:He was brought on to appease the fans and nothing more. How shrewdly Wenger diverted the attention away from a real back-up for RVP. I am a huge Henry fan but how many games did he play rather minutes. was he utilized to give rest to RVP ? No. As a club we always tend to paper over the cracks and the real issues are never addressed.

That is kind of how I felt about it too.

Leody wrote:

ChVint22 wrote:

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:He was brought on to appease the fans and nothing more. How shrewdly Wenger diverted the attention away from a real back-up for RVP. I am a huge Henry fan but how many games did he play rather minutes. was he utilized to give rest to RVP ? No. As a club we always tend to paper over the cracks and the real issues are never addressed.

That is kind of how I felt about it too.

I said it in the Henry thread when it was announced.

He would be used as Chamakh would if he were with us, and he would have a little more to contribute. Looks like I was about right. I doubt that Chamakh would have scored in either of those two games Henry did.

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:He was brought on to appease the fans and nothing more. How shrewdly Wenger diverted the attention away from a real back-up for RVP. I am a huge Henry fan but how many games did he play rather minutes. was he utilized to give rest to RVP ? No. As a club we always tend to paper over the cracks and the real issues are never addressed.