Wenger Confirms Henry Loan Won’t Be Extended – Misses Spurs Game

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed today at his weekly press conference that striker Thierry Henry’s loan won’t be extended and he’ll return to New York on the 16th February.

Henry joined the Gunners at the start of January on a short term loan deal and made an immediate impact, coming off the bench to score a superb late winner against Leeds United in the FA Cup.

It was suggested the striker could extend his loan until the end of February meaning he’d be available to face North London rivals Tottenham on the 26th.

However, those hopes have been dashed with Wenger confirming on the clubs official website that despite his desire to keep hold of the 34-year-old, Henry will return to the Red Bulls as planned as it wouldn’t be fair to keep him any longer.

“There is clarification, it will be February 16 [when he returns]. The day after the game in Milan,” Wenger said.

“I would have loved him to stay for two more weeks but he has to go back. He is captain of the Red Bulls, so just to appear on the first day of the season would be unfair to them.

“We accepted at the start that we would release him on February 16 so we respect our word. He thinks as well that it would be too late [to remain for two more weeks].”