Houllier Casts Serious Doubt Over Henry’s Arsenal Return

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, more on Thierry Henry’s proposed loan move to Arsenal.

New York Red Bulls global adviser Gerard Houllier has cast serious doubt over Thierry Henry’s proposed loan move to Arsenal next month, according to the Daily Mail.

Henry has been training with the Arsenal squad to maintain his fitness during the MLS off-season and the report claims the Gunners legend is expected to re-join us on loan when the transfer window re-opens next month.

However, former Liverpool and Aston Villa boss Houllier – who’s now working with the Red Bulls – has claimed that despite the reports, Arsenal haven’t been in touch over a move and believes Henry would prefer to spend time with his new family during the holidays.

‘I find it strange what we hear in the media. If Arsene needed him, he would have called me or sporting director Andy Roxburgh, but this is not the case.

‘I do not think both parties need to have this second comeback. Moreover, he became a dad. I think he will want to enjoy the holidays.’ Houllier is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail

Henry made a successful return to the club last year when he came back for a 2 month loan spell and made an instant impact, coming off the bench to score the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup. He followed that up with a vital last minute winner against Sunderland in the league and also saw a goal against Blackburn wrongly ruled as an own goal by the FA’s dubious goal panel.

A third spell may well work again, as Henry is arguably looking fitter and sharper this time around than he was last year. He’s just come off the back of an excellent season in the MLS where he scored 15 goals and made 12 assists in just 25 games, so could be a valuable asset if he were to come back to north London for a third time.

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But as I’ve said before, I’d only like to see Henry come back if it’s in addition to bringing in another striker on a permanent basis. We desperately need another proven striker and while Thierry could provide cover for Gervinho while he’s away at the African Cup of Nations, we would need someone to be with the squad for the rest of the season and provide us with more options in attack.

The Mail claim we’re interested in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Demba Ba, Adrian Lopez and Wilfried Zaha. I’d like to see either Huntelaar or Ba come to the team next month but we’ll have to wait and see what Arsene’s plans are.

Who would you like so see come to Arsenal in January? Get involved in the comments section below.