Should we be annoyed with Arsenal or Thierry?

Has Wenger made the right decision on Henry?

Yesterday the news broke that Gunners legend and all time leading goalscorer Theirry Henry would be leaving the club’s youth set-up, after he rejected the opportunity to become the new Arsenal under 18’s coach.

Arsene Wenger reportedly offered Henry the position of Under 18’s coach on a full time permanent basis, with Henry having worked with the youth set up at the club for the last few months. Henry is currently undergoing his coaching badges and Arsenal were helping him obtain them by giving him the opportunity to manage some of the club’s most promising young talents. Based on the good vibe, practical skill and footballing knowledge he has brought to these young players, Arsenal hoped Henry would continue his good work at the club on a full time basis.

Henry was given the opportunity by his old boss Arsene Wenger, but Le Prof had some conditions put in the contract which would mean Henry would have to end his time with SkySports working as a pundit. Henry previously combined the two roles, however with a full time position on the cards at Arsenal, Henry was slammed by Wenger for wanting to continue to combine both, with Wenger stating that it wouldn’t be possible. Henry therefore chose to remain with Sky on his £4million a year contract and is now reportedly looking for a new club to join.

Yesterday I couldn’t make my mind up on whether Arsenal fans should be disappointed in Wenger or Henry. I was sitting on the fence, however now I can see that as frustrating as it may be, it is Wenger who has done the right thing. Wenger was concerned that Henry would work with the club in the week, but then potentially criticise the first team at the weekend with Sky. Furthermore Henry would be likely to miss some of the Under 18 matches as coach, as he would be at Sky working on his punditry position, which just wouldn’t be acceptable as a coach of a side. To be offered a full time job when you have two part time jobs, usually means that you have to give up the other one. Sadly for Arsenal, Henry chose his punditry role, over continuing his development with Arsenal.

I just hope that Henry doesn’t go on to show Arsenal up in the future, as he follows the likes of Arteta, Bergkamp and Vieira out of the Emirates to coach teams elsewhere.

By AH

20 Comments

  1. id say both

    he has the statue, hes a legend, top 3 in our history
    but dissing wenger on sky sports an the players- doesnt look good while your part of the team
    he is forthright about us on sky sports..unlike carragher who keeps his nose in the buttocks of liverpool.

    if he joins another teams under 18’s i will be very unhappy. west ham and watford cant be blamed- how often does one of the best players in history become free to coach

    ot …joel campbell has been told to look for new club- while theo walcott stays.

    as the late elvis used to say…yo homey what the bumbaclaart??

    1. so how is it both? your entire comment put it on henry which is accurate you cannot pin this on wenger

      1. How can you NOT pin this on wenger? Henry offered his help for free on the side of his well paid job at sky. Wenger put the ultimatum all or nothing, but was not willing to pay equally what sky does. Wenger forced this exit.

    2. I don’t get it when people say Henry disses Wenger and the Team on TV.
      That’s so not true.
      I’m not saying Henry must stay at Arsenal…but you have to know that He is a fan of the club.
      Arsenal’s loss will be someone else’s gain…and it’ll bite us in the behind, as it has always done.

  2. “Wenger was concerned that Henry would work with the club in the week, but then potentially criticise the first team at the weekend with Sky”

    When you bring that bit into it, it just irritates me.

    “Furthermore Henry would be likely to miss some of the Under 18 matches as coach, as he would be at Sky working on his punditry position, which just wouldn’t be acceptable as a coach of a side. ”

    Now this other bit I find to be understandable, logical and mature. And I believe this was the major reason for the decisions made.

    1. “Wenger was concerned that Henry would work with the club in the week, but then potentially criticise the first team at the weekend with Sky”

      “When you bring that bit into it, it just irritates me.”

      Below is something from the Arseblog, which I think is spot on here.

      “It doesn’t take much to knock the confidence of a couple of individuals and for that unease to damage team spirit as a whole. I’m not saying our players can’t handle having the finger pointed at them, but in a world where millions are spent on incremental gains, it would be churlish not to take the above into account.”

      We spend so much time, efforts and money to improve our squad even in the sightliest margin, it would be very unprofessional from Wenger if he allowed one of his coach to do punditry as it can potentially damage the teams moral and confidence.

  3. I do think Henry could have quit sky, it isn’t like he needs the money right? If he is serious about coaching then what is he doing only committing himself 50%?

  4. I don’t have a strong opinion on this one and as long as Wenger is in charge he should do what he thinks is best.

    I do believe clubs can benefit from ex-players staying involved and picking up coaching roles and it doesn’t seem too many of our ex-players do this. Even Steve Bould appears somewhat neutered to me. And the likes of Vierra, Bergkamp and now Arteta also go to other clubs. Having said that, Henry doesn’t striker me as a great coach or manager in the making and he is probably better of as a TV pundit.

    It seems so difficult to me to predict a player’s managerial chances of success based on his playing career. I would not have predicted the success of the likes of Koeman, Klinsman, Lowe and Martinez (yes I do think he has had some success at a high level) and I thought some one like Roy Keane could be successful.

    1. i really want bergkamp here.
      he will be a first team coach one day, a great one
      …who wont fly 🙂

      all statue owners should by emirates law be required to give 10 years coaching service ….
      that way we can build statue for zidane ronaldinho and scarlett johanssen
      ..10 years remember 🙂

      1. “all statue owners should by emirates law be required to give 10 years coaching service ….
        that way we can build statue for zidane ronaldinho and scarlett johanssen
        ..10 years remember ?”

        LOL!

        Why restrict it to Emiretes law? We could start a petition and get the gov to talk about it, that would be something to watch XD Esp as Corbyn is a Arsenal fan 😛

  5. two predictions for us this season,

    we wont get a top c/f this window(due either by wenger stingyness or just stupid prices.) and this will lead to wenger realizing that we might not get the title this season.

    if our title challenge is seriously faltering by January he will not renew his contract in july.

    debate !!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. OT: As time goes by, most of here think that Wenger is hard at work in getting top transfers such as a WC striker. He is right in the middle of deals having great negotiations going right now. In fact I think he is working hard having e-board room meetings with his bosses on how to make a presentation to the fans for the upcoming disappointments!! The presentation has to be solid…

    1. It is the American way on how to present a disappointment with a positive ring to it. The body language, eye contact and the words to be used. This is what is happening in the Arsenal board room now..

      1. he’s fooling nobody. Expect nobody else besides Xhaka and this Asano guy. And prepare for “we couldn’t find the right player” speech he gives every year. When really what happened is that clubs were laughing at our lowball offers all summer. Or we just did nothing…

  7. i’m very Angry at Wenger and our transfer inactivity and unseriousness….

    As for Henry, …whatever!!!!

  8. Only at Arsenal could this become such an issue. Giggs leaves ManU after almost 30 years and there isn’t a peep. Henry leaves Arsenal (for the second time) and its big news. Seriously, does Arsenal even have a PR Department? Or are they on holiday with their Transfer Department?

  9. I’m with Wenger on this one. During the day he would be employed by Arsenal, and at night rip them apart? It wasn’t good for us last year either seeing how Giroud completely fell apart shortly after Henry had a go at him. (not saying Henry is responsible for Giroud’s lack of goals then, but he sure didn’t help). Henry had a choice between money or wanting to be a coach. He made his decision. Wenger and Henry aren’t so different, both very stubborn men.

  10. The legend Henry must know that the decision is not about him the legend but what is best for potential talents which are going to need a lot of nurturing to bring out the talents they possess.

    also the decision was made because obviously Henry is what we call a “two side cutlass” a jamaican phrase for HYPOCRITE.

    On to more serious issue CAMPBELL being asked to find a new club, now what as this player done wrong but given his all for arsenal, life is so unfair

  11. Blaming the departure on Henry is a Farce. If Henry criticizes the team on Sky or during an interview after an under 18 game (given a first team related question is asked), what does it matter. To be fair, Henry only points out the obvious, “Arsenal needs a striker to parties Giroud” etc., isn’t that the truth? Wenger does punditry work during international break (the season is officially in season) and gets paid 8 mil, but has a problem with a staff member working for free at Arsenal while making half of what Wenger makes, sounds hypocritical. The board is also exhibiting double standards as well. They have allowed Wenger to give Henry an ultimatum is this manner, but seems complicit in allowing Wenger to provide mediocre performances with a substantial ultimatum. I put this departure less on Henry and more on the Wenger and the board.

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