A LOT HAS BEEN SAID about Thierry Henry’s departure from the Gunners and the circumstances surrounding his exit. I think a lot of fans were asking: how are we going to cope without him? Yes, he was missing for a large part of last season, but what about now he has actually gone?
And 3 weeks into the new season, I think that is a question which has already been answered.
We all know that the Thierry Henry that we saw last season wasn’t the same prolific goalscorer of previous seasons, but that is what a season of niggling injuries and the lack of a proper summer break can do. He was missing for a large part of last season; so did Wenger use his time on the sidelines to test how the side would cope without our main man? Maybe, but there is no doubt that Henry’s fairly unexpected departure has influenced the team in some way; could it be that his departure has actually allowed the team to develop? Has his exit actually benefited the team?
Any club losing a player of Henry’s calibre is going to feel the loss, let’s not forget that the man is an Arsenal legend, but when our midfield get the ball now they look up and attempt to play in the player in the best position; create something themselves. Last season perhaps, they were only looking for one man.
Last season he was superman; just give him the ball and he’ll do the rest.
A dangerous mentality. I’m not saying that was the case all of last season, and don’t get me wrong, he scored great goals when he played last season; important goals. But he was never fully fit.
There is no doubt that our young team will have learnt a great deal from Henry, what he brought to the team, both in the dressing room and on the pitch, but I think most fans will agree that at this stage, and looking back, it was time for one legend to make way for a team that can become legendary in it’s own right.
What do you think? Based on what you have see so far this season, has Thierry Henry’s departure helped or hindered this team’s development?
I think it’s amazing that you and many others, don’t mention Henry’s negative influence on specially the young players in last 1-2 seasons. He was a million years away from beeing the perfect captain, and he should have been sold straight after the cl final in 2006. Like Vieira, Henry had done he’s part at AFC, and there was no reason to keep him - none at all.
As much I respected Henry, I was glad to see him leave.
-pelle
Comment by pelle — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Let’s wait till after the game against Spurs.
I’ve been really impressed by us so far… but let’s play a (supposed) top 5 contender.
Although I’m very confident
Comment by SoggyCornflakes — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Let’s wait until the end of the season. I agree that Henry was a crap captain and that his ‘influence’ on the younger players was probably more negative than beneficial, but I think that handing him such a responsibility when he already had the implicit responsibility of being the club’s top scorer was too much pressure. We won’t forget his contribution to the club, but I’d like to think that he won’t forget the club’s influence on his career, certainly when he’s on the bench at the Nou Camp, or away at Valencia and the ignorant ultra scum are baying the racist chants at him.
Comment by The long game — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Henry - Superb player. Lousy captain.
Good post.
Comment by Greg Cross — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Wait a minute, wait a minute. We have played FOUR GAMES, against modest opposition, and gained 10 points, the same total as in the equivalent games last season. The reality is that our forwards are not lethal enough to win the title though the problems of going to sleep at the back and not contributing goals from midfield may well have been addressed.
Comment by Nigel — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
I think its fair to say the Thierry Henry has been a wonderful player for this club and certain that his name will always be mentioned in years to come, but there have been many wonderful players at this club, they have all moved on and still the Arsenal come through. Who would have ever thought we could get by without Ian Wright, Tony Adams, Dennis Berkamp, Patrick Viera, and the next one being Cesc Fabregas could be replaced, not forgetting the genius Arsene Wenger. You see no one person is greater than this club so why don’t we just move on stop mentioning the name. The Gunners will always be here while their is football being played.
Comment by lennie g — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
I would like to pay tribute to the legend that was Thierry Henry. He was the best player the Premiership has ever seen although i do believe that it was the right time to let him go. He was shouldering too much of the responsibility and now he has gone the youngsters will be able to step up to the plate and fully devolope into a world class side!
Comment by Gooner_32 — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Nigel, you moron…. last year we had only *5* points from the first 4 games, not 10 like we do now. Get your facts straight. And we do look alot better as a team… we’ll miss his ability to score impossible goals and create goals out of nothing, but if we’re trading the occasional spurt of genius for a more consistent and gritty team, i’m all for it. Our attacking players are quite dynamic… rosicky, fabregas, hleb, rvp, eduardo, etc. we’ll score plenty of goals.
Comment by z s — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
I would like to thank Thierry for all his years service he done us proud. He had to go there is no place on a team unless you are a hundred % commited but he was not in the last 2 years maybe due to his home life we no now he going through a deivoce,and this must have taken over his game personaly i think his move to real madrid is to run away and cut all ties with britain once again Henry many thanks.
p.s. the world seen the best of THIERRY HENRY at ARSENAL.
Comment by kinggoonner — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
To Nigel.
Our first four games last season saw us draw against Aston V lose to Man C, draw against M’boro and win against ManU. That leaves 5 point after four games last season. Now we have 10 after four. Check you stats, mate. We’ve had a brilliant start. We haven’t just beaten weak opposition, we just made them look weak.
Comment by RvP — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Good post. Hopefully Hleb, Rosicky and Van Persie will supervise the goals this year. The football’s under Arsene’s control with Cesc as his representative on earth. The beautiful game will continue to be breathtaking when we get it right. Find it hard to understand anyone who thought we were looking this promising at this stage last year…
Comment by paul sullivan — Saturday, September 8, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
I think Nigel was referring to the equivalent games last season (2006):
Blackburn away - 3points
Fulham Home - 3 POints
Portsmouth Home - 1 point
Man City Home - 3 points
Total = 10 points
which equals the same return as we have seen this season against the same opposition at games played at the same grounds.
N
I think henry had been a negative influence for a while, ever since the Reyes incident in late 2005. However we have to wait until december/jan to judge whether we can be as successful without him as we were with him.
Comment by N — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 1:49 am
Henry was a great servant….But i have no doubt in my heart that he had served his purpose and it was the right time to go……..the last two year he had a become a negative influence on the young players.It must have been due to his domestic problems or may be due to the fact that he did not want to play with them because they are young and all his old mates had gone…….Now the team plays so well without him because they are one and there is no superman…..He is alittle bit slower these days and he doesnt fight for the ball even when he loses it, he will either come and back and commit a foul or live the opponent to go…………I saw him play for france today, he was their wickest link, i do not know why dominique did not take him off……He doesnt run and he slows his teammates when they counter attack………Basically henry is nolonger the player we knew 3yrs ago.Am happy he is gone, we are fighting with our young players.Somethin is going to happen this year.We are going to achieve great things this year with that team.Watch this space
Comment by arseneboy — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 2:06 am
Guys,after all it was Arsene Wenger’s decision…..it cannot be wrong
Comment by Satanm — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 3:31 am
Best thing happen to Arsenal never liked the man , attitude was always a problem he drived Ryas a way not realy the weather, people like Berkamp are closer to the fan heart.
Comment by omer — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Spot on Analysis. Henry was too big a person/figure for our young developing side. Many times he was seen sulking or chastising the younger Players. Compare that to the quieter more considered approach of Gilberto/Toure. We played Chelsea off the Pitch in the first half of the Carling Cup. Henry was a spectator.
The youngsters were in awe of Henry. And rightly so. At his peak he was awesome. The unbelievable tricks/goals/skills/pace were a real treat for all watching. It will be a long time before we see someone like him again. But you never know… Anyway, all that is history. Without him I think the team will grow and mature. Individuals will be allowed to express themselves on the pitch and not have to consider him.
Thank-you for many joyous moments. You are one of the greatest, but this is Arsenal
Comment by goonerlab — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 10:05 am
good comment about the carling final last year. It could be argued that however exceptional the passing was in that first half, we still only scored once BUT it was a youth side, it wasn’t just Henry who was absent but most of the players that should provide our cutting edge from now on (step forward Alex, Tomas and Robin). Seen in that light the game might still be seen as significant in terms of the development of Wenger’s next great side - total football and goals to spare hopefully…
Comment by paul sullivan — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
It was a pity Wenger didn’t take the £40m on offer for Henry a year earlier than the £16m he eventually got. The team has emerged from his daunting shadow and we could have been seeing the benefits of this 12 months earlier, with an extra £24m to boot.
Watching his first game for Barcelona only confirmed for me that although the skill will always be there, the blinding pace that made him exceptional has gone. And when was he ever substituted at Arsenal with only 60 minutes gone? Welcome to the reality check Thiery.
However should he have been playing at the Nou Camp at all as kinggoonner reveals above that Henry really signed for Real Madrid
Comment by clockendjim — Sunday, September 9, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Blackburn away - 3points
Fulham Home - 3 POints
Portsmouth Home - 1 point
Man City Home - 3 points
Yes however, arguably one or two if not all of those teams are better than they were last season. Man City and Fulham should finish higher.
Comment by Darren — Monday, September 10, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Ok,so we have a good team and we are goin to make world class players,but will we pay them right? Can we manage to pay our players the amount that world class players are getting.We will keep losing players to clubs that wil offer them better pay than we can.Besides,funs are good at forgeting what players have done for the club so why should they give ther best years to a low paying club like Henry did
Comment by Tuks — Wednesday, September 12, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
Yes i was………….Henry was olding other
players back.
Ithink i was a good choice
Comment by Gooners — Friday, September 28, 2007 @ 1:14 am
Yes i was………….Henry was holding other
players back.
Ithink i was a good choice
Comment by Gooners — Friday, September 28, 2007 @ 1:14 am
Vanna White Galleries…
Vanna White Galleries…
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