Now the legend has left, Arsenal are flying again, just like they were before he arrived. Coincidence?
When this season is over, wherever Arsenal finish, there will be few sweeter moments than Thierry Henry’s comeback winner in the FA Cup against Leeds.
But with Arsenal out of the cup, it counted for nothing but nostalgia.
While Henry’s parting gift in the Premier League was a winning goal against Sunderland, it should be asked whether overall he had a negative impact on the squad.
I realise not everybody will agree here, but given the way Arsenal have picked up over the past fortnight with stunning wins over Tottenham and Liverpool, the question has to be asked.
In December Arsenal won four out of six league games, losing only to Man City and drawing with Wolves.
In January when Henry’s return was announced, Arsenal lost all three league games, only winning in the FA Cup.
It was a big month which affected Arsenal badly, but fortunately they may just have turned it around and avoided any big damage by beating Spurs and Liverpool.
For a reason why, you have to look back and ask why Henry left in the first place?
Simple, he had become bigger than the team, who were becoming overawed by his presence.
Did the same happen this time?
It seemed so. Henry was treated like a God at the Emirates, quite rightly, some supporters would argue, with his statue unveiled just weeks before.
But to have the player for real come back must have been a huge distraction for the players, and it showed as they were outpassed and outscored in a 3-2 loss to Swansea.
There were of course other reasons for Arsenal’s bad month, injuries to both full-backs for instance.
But Arsene Wenger surely would have been better off signing a permanent striker who could still help out now, rather than the distraction of Henry who has now returned to New York.
It looks to some like Henry simply came back for himself, and the team may have paid the price.
Do you agree or are we being too harsh?
image: © wonker
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