Thierry Henry

One of the world’s greatest living footballers is no longer going to be plying his trade in England; Theirry Henry is off to Barcelona.  What a sad day.

I love football; love it - it’s a real passion for me.  I’m not an Arsenal supporter but have long admired their style of play under Arsene Wenger.  He bought the beautiful game to Highbury and fashioned a record-breaking team that went an entire season without defeat, a truly remarkable feat in the modern game.

Henry has been an integral part of the Gunners for eight years.  Wenger bought him to England as a rather unremarkable winger and turned the young Frenchman into Arsenal’s best ever scorer and one of the finest strikers that the Premiership has ever seen.

Only lacking in headed goals (if we’re being really picky), Henry is a complete player, with speed, grace, poise, agility and pinpoint accuracy with crosses and shots.  He has scored from the penalty spot, with the dead ball, from long range, short range and cheeky back heels to defeat the most determined defender.

As the years have rolled on in his Arsenal career, Henry has taken on the captaincy and has mentored scores of young players who have passed through the club.  He has probably been the reason for many players signing, so that they would have the opportunity to work with and learn from a true master.

The cracks began to show at the Emirates with the recent departure of David Dein and for many it was inevitable that there would be other very unwelcome changes at the club.  Henry stated that his principal reason for leaving was the uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of the manager.

It may even be that Wenger does not stay for much longer.  Let’s hope that if he does move on, the spineless suits at the FA have the guile to sack Steve McLaren and offer him the England job.