Arsenal Greats – Thierry Henry

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had once managed French team Monaco, where a young Thierry Henry played in the youth team. Wenger encouraged the young Henry, who went on to win ‘French Young Footballer of the Year’ in 1996.

It is no surprise that when Wenger took charge of Arsenal, he bought Henry from Juventus for £10 million. At first it looked as if Henry could not cope with the physical nature of the English game, he failed to score in his first eight games. However, after toughening himself up, he ended his first season with an impressive twenty six goals.

During the 2001/2 season, Henry’s hard work payed off and the team won the double, Henry scored thirty two goals in all competitions. Arsenal were now a real force to be reckoned with. In 2002/3 Arsenal won the FA Cup and Henry was named PFA Player of the Year. During the 2003/4 season Arsenal went through the entire campaign without being defeated, the first team in more than a century to do so, largely due to the excellent performances of Thierry Henry.

In 2006 Henry became Arsenal’s top goal scorer of all time and won the Football Writers Association Player of the Year.

Arsenal reach the finals of the Champions League in 2006 but were defeated by Barcelona. The following season, Henry was out through injury for long periods.

In June 2007 Henry was transferred to Barcelona for twenty for million Euros.

Always a prolific striker and skillful player on and off the ball. Thierry Henry is a legend at Arsenal FC.