His contribution to Arsenal Football Club was recognised this weekend with the unveiling of a bronze cast of himself in his iconic sliding celebration that he had the option to do 226 times for Arsenal after each one of his Gunner goals. He stands as Arsenal leading goal scorer of all time with 226 goals in 369 appearances for the Gunners over a period of eight years. His goals to game ratio, 0.61 gpg, exceeds Arsenal’s current hit man, Robin Van Persie’s 0.45, by 0.16; however Robin Van Persie could be set to break Henry’s record for most Premier League goals in one season for Arsenal, 30, if he’s left to do the job alone. He’s already on 15.
So far this calendar year, Robin van Persie has scored 33 goals in 32 Premier League games and he still has four games in which to increase that tally; there is no denying that he is on fine form in front of goal for Arsenal and this has led to many questions over how they’d cope without him: after all, he is responsible for half of Arsenal’s Premier League goals this season and has further contributed with five assists. He’s arguably the world’s best striker, at current.
However, the pressure on him is sizable and with Chamakh seemingly not fit for purpose and Gervinho joining him for the African Cup of Nations as it is, in January, anyway, could Wenger do with moving for Thierry Henry in the January transfer window?
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“As for Thierry Henry, I would say ‘No’,” said Arsene Wenger, when quizzed over the possibility of bringing him back. Yet again, the Gunners boss is looking to the youth to carry Arsenal forward, “we have players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
and Ju Young Park to come in,” stated the Gunners’ boss. But for once could Wenger do with breaking a habit of a lifetime, by bringing his former protege back?
Yes. Although his last rule-breaker hasn’t particularly paid off yet, the 6ft 6′ Per Mertesacker who broke Wenger’s rule of signing no player taller than himself, Thierry Henry has proved he can deliver everywhere he’s gone since his transition from the wing to front man; Arsenal, Barcelona and now New York Red Bulls. His scoring ability has built him a, ” sensational career simply down to his class,” – Wenger’s words.
At 34, some may stand by Wenger’s decision not to look back – but this is a striker who is still slamming goals home, he scored 14 goals in 26 games in his recently finished campaign with NY Red Bulls, and an experienced proven striker that Arsenal may well need during January.