The Arsenal Blog

It seems that after 19 years as a Juventus player, Alessandro Del Piero is ready for a new challenge. The 37-year old striker has hinted strongly that he is looking for pastures new by saying “My experience here has been wonderful, with great happiness and enthusiasm. Embracing my team mates (after clinching the title), and in all the games, whether I played or not. It was a little strange but right now I only want to smile.”  ...........Read more

Many Arsenal fans get withdrawal symptons when the transfer window shuts, but there are still lots of websites out there that seem quite happy to keep up a drip-feed of (usually ridiculous) Arsenal transfer rumours, so let’s have a look at a selection of the latest juiciest Arsenal gossip.

First of all we have a real bit of news about Lukas Podolski. He has made it clear that he is leaving Koln, and confirms that he speaks English. But of course that doesn’t mean he is moving to Arsenal, but we can all hope of course…..  ...........Read more

The returning hero Thierry Henry was the subject of adulation and hero worship after scoring the winner on his latest Arsenal debut against Leeds last Monday, but he saw red after seeing the other side of the coin when the Gunners got beat at Swansea.

He admits he over-reacted when he heard the abuse being aimed at Arsenal players from their own fans, and has decided to make a public apology and to try and explain his reaction.

Henry said: “I was really shocked and disappointed on Sunday – and not just at the result.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger believes that, despite Thierry Henry being signed to give some competition to Robin Van Persie for the next two months, the two Arsenal strikers are quite happy with the situation.

Van Persie was given a holiday abroad this week while Chamakh and Henry both played against Leeds, and Wenger is hoping that he will come back refreshed and ready to fight for Arsenal in the second half of the season.

“Robin was happy when Thierry joined us,” Wenger said. “but what we expect of him now is to continue the goalscoring record he delivered in 2011 and hopefully be ready for another fight.”  ...........Read more

The Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny is amazed at the amount of energy that Thierry Henry uses even in training, and thinks that he runs around “like a 20 year-old”.

Considering that Henry is actually 34 and is said to have lost his speed that is a great compliment, and the French international defender believes that his countryman is getting a buzz from being back in the atmosphere of playing for Arsenal and can only help the whole team improve while he is there on loan.

“He is leading by example, we saw it on Monday night,” Koscielny told Arsenal’s official website.  ...........Read more

The Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is back with the Gunners for a six week loan. Arsene Wenger has already said that he will be involved against Leeds in the FA Cup match tonight, then he will be available for the upcoming League games against Swansea, Manchester United, Bolton, Blackburn and Sunderland.

That is five possible games that he could score in, but how many do you think he will actually get?

I’m asking because I have just found an interesting bet available from Victor Chandler, who are offering odds on the outcome.  ...........Read more

The rumours that Arsenal would not be able to come to an agreement with the New York Red Bulls in time for Thierry Henry to join the squad for the FA Cup match against Leeds on Monday have proved to be wide of the mark, and the Gunners have officially confirmed that the contract is now in place.

Arsène Wenger said on the official Arsenal site: “I am very happy. It was my desire and Thierry’s desire. We will have Thierry for January and in February. Then he will go back to the United States.  ...........Read more

The Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny believes that the return of Thierry Henry to the club that made him into a legend should be completed very quickly as the Gunners need him in the team right now.

“He’s quality,” Szczesny said yesterday. “He’s still a great finisher and he’s very clever, he’s very intelligent.

“As well as that he’s a great figure to have in the dressing room. He helps all the young players off the pitch as well as on the pitch.

“It’s good to have him there and hopefully everything will be confirmed and done as soon as possible because we need him.”  ...........Read more

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is adamant that Thierry Henry has not been brought back on loan simply to act as cover for Robin Van Persie, as he could also be used on the wing in place of Gervinho when the Ivorian goes to the Nations Cup.

Wenger cites the fact that Henry stopped playing in the centre-forward position when he left Arsenal for La Liga. “Thierry came into the side on the left and when he moved to Barcelona.” Wenger said.”He played on the left because they had Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the middle.  ...........Read more

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made many pronouncements about the rumoured Arsenal targets. It is certainly possible that he is just creating a smoke-screen to put everyone off finding out who his targets are, but I am beginning to think not!

When asked about whether he was targeting Lukas Podolski Wenger said “No!” curtly. He has made it clear that he only needs a short-term striker to cover while the African Nations Cup is on, and so the signing of Henry is nearly certain now.  ...........Read more