Arsenal and Thierry Henry Could Benefit from Reigniting Love Affair

It shouldn’t baffle me how much can change in a year of professional football, but it still does. It seems that there are a number of examples this season where the unthinkable became reality in a sport that never seems to lack drama. I personally didn't predict the crisis at Portsmouth, Bobby Zamora led Fulham to a European Cup final after being branded as a “donkey” by many, while no one could have ever imagined that Sol Campbell would leave Portsmouth, sign for Notts County, and end the season playing in the heart of Arsenal’s defence. 

It’s a funny old game.

Perhaps the major change that has struck me is the shift in opinions of Thierry Henry, a player who brought so much to Arsenal and the English game. To many he is the finest foreign import that the Premiership has ever seen.

This time last year he was one of Barcelona’s key players in a treble winning season. Henry personally had a successful season in Spain, reaching the form of old, and while many acknowledged that his best days were behind him, it was clear that he was an important player for one of the best club sides to play the game.

This is a distant memory.

The infamous handball in the World Cup qualifying playoff between France and the Republic of Ireland is the memory that is sparked for many when asked about Thierry Henry. For a man that has produced so many great moments in the game, it is sad that one act of dishonesty has tainted the view of one of its greatest players.

This season Henry has been a peripheral figure for Barcelona. The signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the emergence of Pedro, and the continuing rise of Lionel Messi has seen him fall further down the pecking order at the club and one can’t help but feel that Henry was seen as an embarrassment to the "perfect football club" after that night in Paris.

As an Arsenal fan, I have witnessed the magic that Henry can produce. So you can imagine how I could not believe that Henry was left on the bench in favour of Bojan and Jeffren when Barcelona needed a goal against Inter in the second leg of their Champions League semi final. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. It seemed clear that Henry’s time at Camp Nou was coming to an end.

The season has now ended and it is believed that Henry is to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham by making the move to the MLS, where he is expected to sign for the New York Red Bulls. For me, this move will seal his fate as many will brand him as a cheat for the infamous 'hand of frog' moment, rather than one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I find it heartbreaking.

He may be heading to the States, but for me this isn’t the Hollywood happy ending that I want to see for Henry. Like many of the great films produced in the USA, an inspirational and heartwarming story is at the centre. What I and many Arsenal fans would love to see is the great man rebuild his reputation after his fall from grace, and in doing so, reminding everyone why they adored Henry in the first place.

I still think Henry can offer something at the highest level and I believe he could bring Arsenal something that they are currently lacking.

It seems unlikely, but Wenger’s re-signing of Sol Campbell shows that stranger things have happened. With Cesc Fabregas likely to be leaving, Arsenal need to do something in the transfer market and Wenger will be well aware that he is losing a talent, a leader, and a player that others to look up to. However, the re-signing of Thierry Henry would go some of the way to bridging this gap. Wenger and Henry could yet again become a marriage made in heaven.

It would be easy to get sentimental over Henry, but on paper this signing makes a lot of sense. He isn’t the Henry that left Arsenal, but he’s still a good player. Imagine if Wenger had made this signing 12 months earlier? Especially in hindsight after seeing the problems the club faced in the absence of Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.

Now, surely it would be a perfect fit? Henry can lead the line as a solo striker as he did in many of the games that Arsenal played in Europe, and with Wenger now regularly applying a similar system to what the Frenchman has played in at Barcelona, Arsenal's record goalscorer could also fill positions on the right or left hand side of a front three. Can you honestly say that Henry could’ve played worse than Walcott, Rosicky, or even Eboue has in the right sided position this season? Let’s not forget all of the assists Henry clocked up after roaming into wide positions in his spell at the club.

If Henry did return to the club, and I concede that it seems unlikely, he won’t be the main man, in fact, he may not even start every week, but he can still add class to a team in need of reinforcement. While his pace isn’t as raw as it used to be, he is intelligent, his movement creates space for others, he has the eye for a pass, and there aren’t many that I’d prefer to be found in a goal-scoring position. He can still produce something out of nothing as well. Any team needs players that can do that.

Whether it would be from the bench, in a rotation system, or making a position his own again, I believe that re-signing Thierry Henry would be of huge benefit for Arsenal football club. Like Campbell, his presence in the dressing room could be invaluable. He is a winner, he has the winning mentality, and he can offer advice to younger players coming through the ranks. He is also still a big name and Arsenal will need these at the club when hoping to attract new players—especially if Fabregas completes his expected move.

So why not, Arsene?

A free transfer and a one-year contract for a player who loves the club and has a point to prove—surely Arsenal could do a lot worse. It would be a fitting end to a great career if he could make a contribution that will help bring a long-awaited and much publicised "needed" trophy to the Emirates Stadium.

New York will still be there in a year’s time.