There was a shocking rumour around last week that Thierry Henry wanted to ditch the Red Bulls now and become Wenger\’s No.2 next season.
That notion is bizarre in the extreme.
It must be the result of someone\’s deranged drug fantasy.
How on earth could a narcissistic ballerina inject resilience into a developing team? How could a diva who weeps at the sight of own statue create greater belief in the rabble we saw on Sunday?
How could a global superstar, with big endorsement contracts, who is the most camera-conscious footballer of all time, become genuinely interested in the welfare of other players?
When Maria Callas stopped singing, did she manage other opera stars?
Bringing Henry back now is a money-saving stunt which makes little sense, even as a stop-gap signing.
Back To The Future- starring Thierry Henry?
I’m not buying a ticket for that movie.
Same with 37-year old Paul Scholes. It’s papering over the cracks and it’s ridiculous. It’s insulting.
But a hidden agenda would explain it.
Maybe this is what Wenger always had in mind.
Maybe that’s why he asked Pat Rice to stay on for one last season.
Because he always had Thierry in mind as his No.2.
It’s not inconceivable.
Thierry would be very good at spouting scripted corporate garbage, good at selling the future, more than willing to endorse a sustainable model that pays him millions but aims low but wins nothing because it aims so low.
That job would keep Henry on TV every day and maintain his fame in the media world he inhabits so cleverly, still working for the club which gave him almost everything he has.
Thierry Henry is far more intelligent than most footballers, as you know.
Discerning Gooners have one big beef that’s almost never mentioned :
Week after week, month after tedious month, year after endless year, Wenger & Gazidis delight in telling us what London’s biggest club can’t do.
We hear that litany about what Arsenal can’t do.
We can’t compete with Chelski’s oligarch, We can’t compete with Manchester United’s stadium size, We can’t compete with the Arab petro-dollars of Manchester City.
If Tottenham finish third, and Arsenal finish fifth, what will Gazidis say then?
What will Wenger say?
Will they still be selling the future?
Will TH12 still be around to tell gutted fans, who have driven to Stoke and Wolverhampton to see Arsenal lose, that they should support a team that fields several donkeys in every game?
PS. Henry has now apologised to the fan he swore at on Sunday after the 3-2 defeat at Swansea.
ANR motto : In Wenger I don’t trust