Wenger: Why I let Henry leave

It's not often that manager Arsène Wenger allows a player to leave the club, especially the club's all-time top scorer, club captain and who many regard as the best player in the world.

But when striker Thierry Henry submitted a transfer request to the Arsenal manager, the Frenchman did not stand in his captain's way, paving the way for him to join Spanish champions Barcelona.

Henry recently won the Champions League with his new club this week, beating Manchester United 2-0 in the final in Rome.

Wenger explains why he let Henry leave so easily: "It is not the same [if another player said he did not want to wait for trophies].

"Thierry played a long time for us, nobody else did that and he was close to the end of his career. All these players [in the current squad] are at the start of their careers so it's completely different.

"I think the exact opposite now – I don't see why we should educate the players, get some stick and when they're ready we sell them. That would be masochistic."

User Comments

Ahmed

Posted on 9 Jun, 2009 at 09:20 AM - Reply

Bring him back please... you need him, you know u do... he can still do A LOT... but, who am i to say so? YOU ALREADY KNOW IT ARSENE

platinum gunner

Posted on 3 Jun, 2009 at 01:22 PM - Reply

well, we don't really need henry simply because we will start looking at him as a goal scoring machine. so its best that the current squad stands on its feet and FIGHT!!!

2ndGenerationInvincibles

Posted on 3 Jun, 2009 at 01:04 PM - Reply

All of you are so naive. How can you believe Wenger allowed him to go for trophies?

Henry was allowed to leave due to personal domestic issues. His girlfriend/wife was due to break up with him and keep his daughter Tia with her in his London apartment while he was made to look for another home.

He moved abroad to win trophies, yes. But that wasn't his main objective. He had to get away from his troubles in London and so he went. However, I feel that the odds of him coming back to London are strong. Though not as a player, I'm pretty sure he will have something to do with the coaching system. Or even join Bergkamp and create his own footballing academy for youngsters. Respect to both Titi and Iceman.

sulazu

Posted on 3 Jun, 2009 at 10:50 AM - Reply

Am happy for Thierry Henry for deserve to add the Champions League trophy to his illustrous football career. But Wenger's comment seems an admittance that Arsenal may not be able to win the Champions League anytime soon. Hence, he let some of our best players to go out & achieve it in some more ambitious teams like Henry did. But for the same Henry, we would have won the trophy in 2006.

gooner

Posted on 3 Jun, 2009 at 05:11 AM - Reply

Where s the money

kazzy waziri

Posted on 2 Jun, 2009 at 07:42 PM - Reply

arsenal management need to spent huge sum of money for experience players if and only if the want to take trophies,especially champions league.one love to all gunners fan,we can make it next season.

Gunne in Dubai

Posted on 1 Jun, 2009 at 11:30 PM - Reply

I am happy for henry, who wouldnt be? but what's next for him? can he be tempted to get back and win it with us? i hope wenger tries to get him back...we lost something when he left us, same as when vieira left, but def Henry's loss was bigger...bring back TH14!

Tobi

Posted on 1 Jun, 2009 at 02:26 PM - Reply

Methinks Wenger saying he allowed him to leave for Champions League trophy is bull-shit. Instead of letting go, He should have drilled the team with Henry to win the trophy at Arsenal! The rest anyway, is history

FerruleElbow

Posted on 1 Jun, 2009 at 05:21 AM - Reply

Bring Henry Back???

zizou

Posted on 31 May, 2009 at 09:05 PM - Reply

well he really had to leave to add a champion league trophy to his career

yamamaBergkamp10

Posted on 30 May, 2009 at 04:20 PM - Reply

He did the right thing. He let the greatest player of his generation win the the ultimate football Holy Grail - Champions league winner of Zero8/Zero9 season! Bravo Titi!

pete

Posted on 30 May, 2009 at 12:24 AM - Reply

i would like 2 say arsenal spend good mony for the next season and buy some players thnx

anas

Posted on 29 May, 2009 at 11:44 AM - Reply

are you going to buy henry back

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