Henry back to Arsenal - loan looking likely

I'm always right

Couldn't find a thread on this and wondered what people's thoughts were? I know many reds get all excited about the impossible idea of bringing Beckham back on loan, whilst others think it'd tarnish his reputation here, others think he just wouldn't be good enough.

So what do we think about the possibility of Henry moving Arsenal on loan? Makes sense to me, he's obviously still good enough to do a job, and he'll bring jubilation to the club as well as being an excellent option to cover for the the 2 strikers that will soon head off to Africa.

From Henry's point of view though, is it a smart move? or will he tarnish his legend?

rcoobc

Is it a 2 month loan, or a 5 month loan? Could make all the difference to be honest. I think he will do well though.

I'm always right

From what I've read it's looking like 2 months just to cover the African Cup of Nations.

padzilla

He's well past his best.

Pexbo

I'd say it's a bad move. Look at how Fabregas blossomed when Henry's shadow was removed and look at how van Persie is now loving being the main man in a similar way.

Bring Henry in and I suspect van Persie will suffer for it.

I'm always right

obviously, but what is your opinion? Good move to cover for Chamakh and Gervinho when they leave to Africa or not? Good move from Henry or not?

mariachi-19

He'll be shite. He struggled enough for Barcelona in 09/10, how will he deal with the pace of the PL?

Drifter

Just hope arse fans don't get swept up on his return.No where near the same player that left.

I'm always right

He aint that slow. And he played on the wing for Barca.

I doubt pace will be a problem for him, Berba seems to do just fine as do plenty of strikers in our league that aren't blessed with lightening pace.

padzilla

His game was so reliant on pace, that I really think he'll struggle.

RedThaiDevils#7

I didn't think he suited the Barca 4-3-3, was superb spear heading the gunners 4-4-2 at that time.

I can't see where he'll fit in the gunners current formation either, he hasn't got that electrifying pace anymore...

All in all, I think Henry will do really well if they revert back to 4-4-2 but with 4-3-3 he'll just be a normal player and won't do much for them imo.

I'm always right

That's a decent point. Although I expect RVP is now a good enough player to rise above that.

I'm always right

It doesn't sound like the plan is to "fit him in", he'll no doubt be an understudy to RVP.

I'm always right

He was a better player than that in all fairness.

Oh, and I bet he's still faster than 80% of players in the league.

Red Devil 26

Surely still a better alternative than Chamakh?

Cold_Boy

Surely its a good loan.

Bit like Larrson.

They need cover for Van Persie

rcoobc

Arsenals Upcoming Fixtures


A lot of fixtures over the next few months, including AC Milan, Man United, Tottenham and whoever in the FA Cup. Keeping RVP fresh for those games could be very important.

mariachi-19

That didn't stop him having a highly effective 08/09. He'll likely be as effective as Larson was for us.

el eric

He's been training with Arsenal for the last while and they are losing both Chamakh and The Forehead for a month for the Nations cup so it makes sense to me. Will probably boost the fans having him back too. He'll only be used as cover and maybe a cup game and it wont cost much so whats the harm?

BaldwinLegend

I don't think that's true - Van Persie is so clearly the main man at Arsenal now and Henry will come back in a clear back up role.

As everyone points out - should RvP get injured Arsenal will be fucked. Having a back up guy who's happy to be on the bench and play a limited role is no bad thing.

I also think having someone so heavily associated with winning Arsenal teams will be good for them.

Seems very underrated on here - he's the best striker I've seen in the PL era. If he's only half as good now he'll be more than decent back up and still better than some of the strikers you see at PL level.

peterstorey

Looks sensible on the face of it but I'd hate to see him skulking around a shadow of his former self, every time I saw Vieira playing for City last year I was shouting 'For god's sake retire'.

mufcwarm92

I reckon he could still do a job. Has a great touch and can score from anywhere, obviously he's over the hill and the pace has gone but with his ability and experience it's a worthwhile gamble.

RonaldoVII

Once the legs are gone for a player like him, there won't be much he can offer.

Moyespopper

I hope Wengers not just basing this on Henrys ability to destroy Mertesacker in training.

Pexbo

I'm not thinking from a van Persie being dropped point of view, I'm talking from a confidence one.

Right now, it looks like van Persie is the most senior player there and he's one they all look to on the field and I'm sure he enjoys the responsibility of that. I just wonder what effect having Henry back in the dressing room could have.

It could be a time that van Persie would look to stand up and have a bit of a word with everyone and instead, Henry feels it's his place to. Or it could be that a younger player goes to Henry instead of van Persie.

It sounds like little things, but it's the sort of thing that could get into van Persie's head and knock his confidence.

BaldwinLegend

Really? He was too good to be reliant purely on pace - I'm sure he's more in his locker than that.

Pogue Mahone

Be great if it happens. If only for the head-fuck it will provide for peterstorey and his repeated insistence that every ex-Arsenal player bar Fabregas was no longer Arsenal quality the moment they left the club. How many years is it since Henry left now?

Rado_N

Seems like a good idea to me, unfortunately. He'll still be good enough to do a job for them in a number of fixtures to give RVP a much needed rest to try and avoid his inevitable injury.

Bryan_Munich

Still looks pretty mobile.

Mockney

He's still easily better than Chamakh tbf.

Boss

I thought so, but when his pace deserted him at his third season at Barca his game turned into complete dogshit.

Literally.

SATA

He's still only what, 33? He'll come in and do a job, maybe score a couple against the lower end teams. Larsson came in at 36 and did all right

Boss

Van Persie and Henry never looked like they saw eye to eye.

Always seemed to be a bit of jealously brewing between the two.

I'm always right

Hyperbole!

Henry scored 19 league goals in his second season at Barca.... complete and utter dogshit I know.

Way way way too good a footballer to be as reliant on his pace as some of you think. And as I said earlier, I'd place a good bet that's he's still faster than 80% of players in the Prem.

Boss

Edited it, I meant third season.

I'm always right

Ah ok, more understandable, but still hyperbole though. He wasn't "dogshit", he just wasn't as good as their other options.

Boss

Hmm he seemed dogshit for the most part, pretty much the same way Torres is playing now. Almost unwatchable.

He did have that one special game when he came on as a sub vs Valencia.

BaldwinLegend

Weren't Henry's problems down to a condition though, which is now sorted?

I reckon this might only be along the lines of Fowler back to Liverpool or Owen to United - signed as much for having them around off the pitch as anything they can still contribute on it.

Skholesy

He'd do a better job than chamakh up front...his effectiveness could probably still rival gervinho's, and he'd be hell of a lot better than arshavin if he was asked to play on the left....

I think it would be a good move for the arse...

Boss

I don't know if it was a condition. It would help explain why he seemed so much slower in a short space of time.

Henry could do well, it will depend how they utilise him. He will always be a finisher and Arsenal only have one if those right now.