‘Henry. Chance. Goal! He may be cast in bronze, but he’s still capable of producing truly golden moments.’
The breath-taking comeback that sent shivers down the spines of everyone watching. Arsenal or non-Arsenal, your heart was thumping, hands were shaking as you leapt from your seat. The ferocious roar omitted from your mouth shook the room, the stadium, the pub… wherever you were. Wherever you were, you knew… The King was back.
One fairytale moment the Arsenal faithful will never forget; The return of the King. Writing well as an emotionally-driven film, Thierry Henry graced the Emirates once more, this time to sink Leeds with his famous side-footed finish. Enjoying what could best be read as a honeymoon period after his gracious affair with the red and white of Arsenal, rumours of a second come-back loomed over the London side – the shining light during grey, gloomy times. This time; no. A one-time valuable possessed by the memories of all living Gooners, Thierry Henry’s time at Arsenal was well and truly finished.
Read our Exclusive interview with Ray Parlour where he talks about Henry as a potential manager
Thierry Henry, the electric Frenchman, scored 228 goals for Arsenal Football Club. The best way to describe him? Impossible. He was simply indescribable. A typical scenario for any Arsenal fan who was lucky enough to breathe his air, Henry; travelling at Olympic sprinter speed, the ball somehow remains at his feet. Tackles and fouls disintegrate into dust behind him as he scores again. Winning 2 Premier League titles and 3 FA Cups, Thierry certainly knows what winning is; so could he be considered as a potential candidate to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager?
The passionate, hungry being that the 37 year-old is, managing a club at elite level should be a breeze. Now in today’s game, the common football manager prone to success is of the younger age bracket. Rudi Garcia and Diego Simeone are two names that spring to mind when discussing the young, enthusiastic coaches that have relished the game in recent years. Recently leaving the field themselves, it displays no hindrance to young, inexperience managers excelling in Europe’s most competitive leagues and competitions.
Thierry Henry has a certain love for Arsenal that not many professionals exert towards a football club. When branded with his statue outside the Emirates “It is the perfect example of the love I have for the club,” he said. “Kneeling and facing the stadium – and with Highbury right behind it – is amazing.” Having a manager that knows the club, able to maintain strong relationship with the owners and staff all around them, is a success from the off. You’d have to imagine his ‘cool’ demeanour would be at risk, as his inner passion and touch-line celebrations would reveal themselves from within the King. Taking our club forward, I definitely want a man who respects us, loves us and understands our certain needs and requirements.
The ex-striker almost certainly has all the attributes to become a top coach. His mentality is positive, able to work with individuals and excel their performances. His experience as a player would benefit the current roster, I mean, what player wouldn’t want to be taught by the master himself. As a striker, it’s evident that a new-brand of football would arrive, and one that would be more aesthetically pleasing for the fans. Scrapping the useless ‘tika-taka’, a free-flowing, powerful attacking game of football would be screened at the Emirates.
Bring back a squad like the Invincibles you say? Well it’s not that easy, but more likely to happen under one of them first-hand. Leading the line of such a powerful squad deployed in a 4-4-2, would we see a resembled squad that is meant to match the record-breaking Gunners from the past? His attractive playing CV would make him advantageous in bringing in platinum players. Arsenal are currently missing the grit and granite needed for a title-contending side and with Henry, he knows all the ingredients to make a successful one. Utilising Welbeck, a player Henry could inspire massively, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscienly as the main core of the squad, Henry’s determination to mould them into the legendary team Arsenal once where would do our club one massive favour.
However, ‘The best players are the worst managers’ is an expression often thrown around freely in football. Could this be the same for the magical Number 14? His lack of experience as a manager indicates a worry amongst Arsenal fans for if he were to become the man in charge. Of course, he’s still playing so his lack of coaching badges would be a worry, so there’s one thing to consider. If the statement were to be true, would Henry want to sacrifice his legendary status, to take the club into total decline when his managerial reign ends poorly? It could happen, probably not, but could. The vicious, sour fans that loom around Twitter would certainly be out for a field day, so there’s always a con to every pro.
Could he do it? Sure, I think so. His intelligence is second to none, with his footballing brain above all in the footballing world. The Frenchman would be a candidate for any top job in Europe if you look at his playing CV. So, could we see a second Henry statue outside the Emirates? This time in a suit and instructing from the wings, and not sliding on his knees in front of the aggressive Tottenham faithful.