Rumours linking Thierry Henry to Manchester United have been circulating for some time now, which have been perpetuated with Sir Alex Ferguson’s recent admission that he couldn’t rule a bid for the striker out, saying, “I can’t answer it because I’ve not got a direct answer.”
I have already made my feelings on the matter rather clear, I don’t want Henry anywhere near United, unless he’s playing for the opposition and losing (like in the European Cup semi-finals last season). However, another Arsenal hero, Ian Wright, seems rather fond of the French forward joining us, claiming that Henry doesn’t love Arsenal enough to be loyal and keep his word to his former club. Is he right?
“At one point it crossed my mind to leave,” Henry said in May 2006. “But I think with my heart and my heart told me to stay. I’ve never played in Spain and never will. This is my last contract.”
Just a year later though, Henry was smiling for the cameras in his new Barcelona shirt. “I always said that if I ever left Arsenal it would be to play for Barcelona. That is no disrespect to anybody,” he claimed. “I saw the club from outside and loved to watch them. I hope to be part of a football I love to watch, a beautiful game. It is a well-structured club, extraordinary. I will put the club before myself. The most important thing is Barcelona.”
However, as the Gunners wiped the tears from their eyes, they were provided with some comfort. At least he wouldn’t play for any other English club. This is a point he has reinforced time and again when he has been linked with a return to the Premiership.
“There’s only one team in England for me,” Henry said recently. “Everybody knows the love and affection I have for Arsenal. There has been since I arrived here a lot of speculation from day one but, hey, go back where? There’s only one team for me in my heart.”
So, should Arsenal fans believe that now? If an offer came in for him from Sir Alex Ferguson, would Henry turn it down because of a promise he made to Arsenal? Ian Wright doesn’t seem to think so, claiming that Henry probably doesn’t have the same feelings of love and loyalty towards Arsenal as players like David Beckham have towards Manchester United.
“I wouldn’t blame him if he went to play under Alex Ferguson,” Ian Wright said in his column in The Sun.
What right has anyone to stand in his way if there is a move to Old Trafford on offer? After all, he’s no David Beckham. When Becks left England for Real Madrid he said he’d never play for another Premier League club other than his beloved United — and he was as good as his word. After his Spanish adventure, even with the likes of Newcastle and Arsenal sniffing around, he joined a side halfway across the world no one had even heard of rather than come back here. It proved just how much he loves United.
There’s no doubt Henry loves the Gunners. The club and Wenger made him what he is today. But I just don’t know if he has the same affection for the club as Becks has for United.
Thierry, who turns 31 on Sunday, still has bags to offer and only a few years left to show it. For one reason or another, he hasn’t had the kind of success at Barcelona he’d have probably hoped for. If he is out for one last move, then he will want to come back to England where everyone loves him and he can be the main man again. Other than Arsenal, there’s only one team for a player of that calibre — and that’s United.
Wright then goes on to look at United’s other options, suggesting Dimitar Berbatov would be a better option Henry because of his age.
The only other attacking player United would probably be interested in is Lionel Messi — although I don’t think Barca would sell. That’s what I love about Alex Ferguson, though. All these trophies and he still wants to sign the best in the world.
Whilst I find it fairly amusing to see an Arsenal legend speaking so highly of United and our manager, I can’t agree than Henry coming to United would be a good thing for our club. The guy is past it and whilst his form at Barcelona isn’t necessarily a true reflection of his ability, we’re building a club for the future, and shouldn’t be plugging the gaps with players who peaked years ago. Even Arsene Wenger wouldn’t want Henry anymore, so why on earth would we? Wright is spot on, Fergie does want to sign the best in the World, but Henry is nowhere near that calibre of player anymore.
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Ian Wright talks shit. Always has done. I’m surprised at how he loves having sly digs at the club that made him a star.
Ian sounds jelassy why? is it cause Henry was voted best player of Gooners ahead of him? anyway i don’t think that he realy know how murh love Henry have for Arsenal.
Spot on, Ian Wright is one cunt.
He’s still upset that we passed on his shit son.
Bob, you sour gooner!
Ian Wright is a muppet
Ian “rent a quote” Wright is an EX Gooner. He has a litany of previous cooments espousing dubious pearls of wisdom; telling his son to sign for the Chavs, only to wring his hands in public about the fact he doesnt get to play for them and back tracking saying he should’ve signed for Arsenal.
He is a pathetic media slag now. Opening his mouth like a cheap whore opens her legs.
His comments about his so called bleoved Arsenal were disgusting as he used a real Arsenal legend; Rocky Rocastle and said he would be “turning in his grave” What a tosser.
Now he says Henry should go to United???
No surprises there really, the guy is 2-D characature of his former self.
Henry won’t go to United, whatever United fans views of him, he will always be a Gooner. And for £20 million??? You’re havin a larf!
Red Devil;
Seriously fella, Wright is a twat. I take it you’ve never heard him on Talk Sh*te radio then?
Thierry going to Utd – you have more chance of kicking the Queen in the head than that happening.
Wrighty is still bitter that we passed up his “son”
That’s funny, I seem to remember David Beckham wearing an Arsenal top on 2 seperate occasions as he trained with us to get fit for Internationals. I’m sure he’s got a lot of respect for United, but if we’d offered him a contract there’s no way he wouldn’t have signed! Wrighty’s picked an odd choice to make his ridiculous point. Anyway Henry won’t want to go to ManU and I doubt they want to sign him anyway. These articles are redundant.
Ian Wright is a special kind of idiot. So when Beckham left Madrid, Newcastle and Arsenal were sniffing around (well Arsenal would never sign him and a relegation battle at Newcastle isn’t much fun), but instead he went to the MLS which “proved just how much he loves United.”‘ Course it did Wrighty, nothing to do with ludicrous sums of money. What a moron.
“That’s what I love about Alex Ferguson, though. All these trophies and he still wants to sign the best in the world.” Wow, another shocking revelation. There was me thinking that once you’d won trophies you could just play Titus Bramble and Marcus Bent. But apparently top clubs still want to sign top players. Hold the back page.
As an Arsenal fan, I’d be quite surprised to see Henry go to United (because Henry DOES love Arsenal, but mainly because United don’t need him). But also I’d like to see Ian Wright burned at the stake for his utter idiocy, because the irritation of his retarded comments now outweigh the good he did for Arsenal. Fuck off Ian.
Gripper
Lets get real for a moment. What wrighty said is the truth.
Beckham was sold for whatever Fergie’s reasons were, had he not been sold he wouldn’t have left. Henry left on his own accord, so all the talk about his love for arsenal is rubbish; Why leave if thats the case?
Players who love their team, and I know they are far and few between, are players like the Gerrard’s, Neville’s, Scholes etc.
All wrighty was saying is that if Henry loved arsenal that much he wouldn’t have left in the firts place. I don’t think he would come to UTD (and we don’t want him anyway) not because of his love for arsenal but because of the rivalry our two teams had whilst he played for you lot.
Oh here we go Ian Wright -a self publicist extreme in another statement chatting a bunch of BS to get people talking. Ian do us favour, you were a wicked player but an author you are not – you only write material which has a ‘shock value’ so please shut the fuck up.
Also Mr.. manc I think Ol’ 65% Proof Nose is being a little mischievious in citing a possible signing of TH14. He is only doing it to get leverage on spurs so they sell Berbatov to you and don’t get stuck with a player with an inflated fee who doesn’t want to play for them. You’ll end up buying Berbatov I’m just surprised Ol’ 65% Proof Nose has got as much milage out of this none story as he has and Ian Wright has fallen hook line and sinker for it. What next? Fergie in ‘we might buy Robbie Fowler shout?’ and a bunch of scouser’s getting irate and bent out of shape cos one of their hero’s might join the ‘enemy’?
There’s about as much chance of TH14 joining the manc’s as me nailing Eva Mendez.
Ian Wank, wank, wank as most gooners are now more than happy to say! The guy is a prize c*ck and constantly sniping at his old club shows him to be the immature little pooh stain we all know and dislike. Great goal scorer, even greater arsehole!
Ian cunt, cunt, cunt!
Ian wank wank wank is a wanker of the highest wanker order. I never liked that tosser and his comments a few weeks ago about Rocky finished him in the eyes of most loyal Arsenal fans. Shame on any Gunner who voted for this cunt on the recent Top 50 Arsenal players poll. I would not wipe my dogs arse with the paper his moronic words are written on. As for Henry joining your rabble… relax, it is never going to happen. Old man Fergie is not senile yet.
lol…priceless . he gets abused by both sets of fans . wonder what makes him say things like this .
Blimey Red Devil/Scott the Red, you really need to get out more mate.
Does a week not go by without you writing some kind of Arsenal related story? Can’t you just bask in your glorious season or is hating more your thing?
As for Henry, I seriously doubt he will join Utd for the reasons detailed by others i.e you don’t need him, Berbatov is who your after and lastly I doubt Fergie wants him.
As for Wright, just goes to show all you need is a bit of celebrity to get a media platform as his knowledge is way off the mark. Beckham went to America for the money and (celebrity) lifestyle, surely not the football or out of respect for Utd. And finally Red Devil, we sold Henry to Barcelona just like we sold Viera to Juve. It was beneficial to all parties(meaning Arsenal FC and the players in question).
As for you finding Wright being gracious and complimenting your club and manager, ‘amusing’, well if a fool like Wright can be objective it says a lot about what your lacking. I can quite happily sit here and agree with his comments about Utd without feeling like I’m compromising support for my own club. It’s called being an adult mate. Get a life!!!
we dont need him,this ex_ARSE-nal player has passed his best. i wouldnt take him for free.
@Uncle Ginger: Woohoo, Beckham trained with you, i can’t just stop laughing at your comment, that he’d have accepted a contract if you offered, he was never in an Arsenal jersey and even though he was, i’m willing to bet an arm and a leg that he will never play for an English club besides United. After all he has done and won with United, what a downgrade it’d be now signing for Arsenal.