HE'S! HE'S.......!!!!!!!!!!
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal offer club legend Henry two-month loan deal
I CAN'T. THIS IS TOO. MY HEART. WORDS CANNOT. BREATHE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO. NO AIR AIR.
Arsenal have FINALLY offered Thierry Henry a contract to return to the club on a two-month loan.
Arsene Wenger had been mulling over whether to take back the club’s all-time leading goalscorer to boost his side’s chances of finishing in the top four.
With Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh heading to the Africa Cup of Nations next month, the Arsenal manager has concluded that top scorer Robin van Persie needs help to lighten his scoring burden.
Wenger decided to make the offer after the 34-year-old returned from holiday in Mexico this week. Henry has a $4.5million (£2.9m) deal with New York Red Bulls but has been training with Arsenal in the MLS off-season and does not have to return to America until March.
Should Henry sign, he could feature in seven Premier League games as well as FA Cup ties and the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 clash against AC Milan. But it is the Premier League where Wenger’s side need most help, with key games against Manchester United and Tottenham coming up.
Henry has impressed with his sharpness, attitude and effect on the Arsenal squad. He has become increasingly in favour of a return to the club and was moved to tears when a statue of him was unveiled at the Emirates this month.
The former Arsenal captain scored a record 226 goals and won two league titles at the club between 1999 and 2007.
His return would excite fans smarting from the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri.
Equally excited about his return are the players themselves, who have nothing but praises for Henry.
"Henry has a lot of experience and he is a great opportunity for us, but I am not the manager and I do not know what is possible, for him or for us," said defender Per Mertesacker.
"I am happy training with him. He is playing well. Training against him is a great experience. He shows his class. He has the same attitude he showed in a lot of Arsenal games." (Mertesacker has also been in touch with fellow German Lukas Podolski, urging him to join the club in January. Sportsmail revealed Wenger’s interest in the striker this month, and Mertesacker said: ‘Of course I’ve been on the phone to him. He is a great player. He scores a lot of goals. His left foot is unbelievable.’)
Alex Song said: "When I see him training, I am teasing him: 'You could still play with us, you know?' But he has never replied and just smiled. What he achieved during his career is just amazing. He has nothing more to prove in football. Today he has the opportunity to give us a help. A player with such stature, such potential. He would bring us a lot."
SOURCES: 1 2
I CAN'T. THIS IS TOO. MY HEART. WORDS CANNOT. BREATHE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO. NO AIR AIR.
Arsenal have FINALLY offered Thierry Henry a contract to return to the club on a two-month loan.
Arsene Wenger had been mulling over whether to take back the club’s all-time leading goalscorer to boost his side’s chances of finishing in the top four.
With Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh heading to the Africa Cup of Nations next month, the Arsenal manager has concluded that top scorer Robin van Persie needs help to lighten his scoring burden.
Wenger decided to make the offer after the 34-year-old returned from holiday in Mexico this week. Henry has a $4.5million (£2.9m) deal with New York Red Bulls but has been training with Arsenal in the MLS off-season and does not have to return to America until March.
Should Henry sign, he could feature in seven Premier League games as well as FA Cup ties and the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 clash against AC Milan. But it is the Premier League where Wenger’s side need most help, with key games against Manchester United and Tottenham coming up.
Henry has impressed with his sharpness, attitude and effect on the Arsenal squad. He has become increasingly in favour of a return to the club and was moved to tears when a statue of him was unveiled at the Emirates this month.
The former Arsenal captain scored a record 226 goals and won two league titles at the club between 1999 and 2007.
His return would excite fans smarting from the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri.
Equally excited about his return are the players themselves, who have nothing but praises for Henry.
"Henry has a lot of experience and he is a great opportunity for us, but I am not the manager and I do not know what is possible, for him or for us," said defender Per Mertesacker.
"I am happy training with him. He is playing well. Training against him is a great experience. He shows his class. He has the same attitude he showed in a lot of Arsenal games." (Mertesacker has also been in touch with fellow German Lukas Podolski, urging him to join the club in January. Sportsmail revealed Wenger’s interest in the striker this month, and Mertesacker said: ‘Of course I’ve been on the phone to him. He is a great player. He scores a lot of goals. His left foot is unbelievable.’)
Alex Song said: "When I see him training, I am teasing him: 'You could still play with us, you know?' But he has never replied and just smiled. What he achieved during his career is just amazing. He has nothing more to prove in football. Today he has the opportunity to give us a help. A player with such stature, such potential. He would bring us a lot."
SOURCES: 1 2
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