The former Arsenal and France super striker Thierry Henry was probably a bit surprised at the backlash that came his way after his comments about Arsenal and Olivier Giroud after we were held to a scoreless draw by Chelsea recently. Whether it was this or just a desire to make his views more clear I don´t know, but he has spoken out to say that he has been misunderstood.
As reported by The Mirror, Henry wants to make it clear that he was not getting on the back of our big centre forward. When he said that the Gunners could not win the Premier League title with Giroud he did not mean that his fellow countryman is not good enough, apparently, but that he needs help up front.
It is true that we have had to rely heavily on Giroud in the last three years and Henry points out that he had the likes of Begkamp and Wiltord backing him up and taking the pressure off his shoulders when he was firing the Gunners to trophy after trophy.
The TV pundit explained, “Alexis Sanchez made me believe he can [take Arsenal to the next level]. But I do believe he needs help. I believe also that Olivier Giroud needs help.
“I said what I said [about Giroud] and people took it a bit the wrong way. When we were winning titles it was because [Nwankwo] Kanu could do a job when I needed a rest.
“Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord was coming sometimes with a hat-trick there, a goal at the end of a game but were not always starters.
“I think [Arsenal] need another striker – that’s what I said the other day – that has other characteristics than Giroud.
“I think they need to improve that [squad] with other guys.
“When I talked about the spine and talking about the goalkeeper and a centre-back and a holding midfielder and a striker, I’m not saying to the guys [who are already there] ‘leave and let [new guys] come and play’, no, [I’m saying] compete.”
Perhaps seeing the impact that a different sort of forward in Theo Walcott had the other day helps to clarify Henry´s case. I do think, as well, that pundits, especially new ones, are under pressure to prove they are not too biased by criticising their former clubs. Gary Neville has certainly not held back on Man United so hopefully Wenger and Giroud can take Henry´s words on the chin and move on. Maybe the boss should listen to his former star as well. What do you think?