Thierry Henry: Arsenal fans must lay off Arsene Wenger
Posted Saturday, July 30, 2011 by The Sun
THIERRY HENRY returns to the Emirates today with a message for all disillusioned Gooners: Lay off The Boss.
'The Boss' is what Henry still affectionately calls his old Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger four years after leaving the North London club.
Since then, Wenger's halo has slipped a bit.
After six years without a trophy, the Professor has come in for a bit of stick among a growing contingent of his own supporters.
Around 2,000 season-ticket holders have turned their backs on the club and thousands more have turned down the chance to replace them.
Of those who remain, more and more are questioning their manager's philosophy to keep his hands in his pockets when it comes to splashing out on new signings.
But Arsenal's record scorer Henry, who netted 226 times for the club between 1997 and 2007, reckons the groaning Gooners should be careful what they wish for.
The striker, who will play for the New York Red Bulls in this weekend's Emirates Cup, said: "Yes, I speak to The Boss quite often. The Boss, is the boss. All the bosses that I had, I call them boss. That's the way it is.
"One day I would like to be the boss. I would love to be part of this club again one day. But right now, I think they are in the right hands and we know that.
"I know some people have had a go at Arsene recently. But I wouldn't want to be the one to have to be the manager after him.
"The Boss changed the face of the club and, for me, I would keep him here for life.
"I know he got a bit of stick recently but I thought it was unfair and hopefully they can change that this year.
"They were close enough to win it but they didn't. In football, you get judged on what you win.
"But they will realise what Arsene was all about the day that he stops. Then they will see."
Henry's Bulls lock horns with his former club tomorrow. He admitted: "It is emotional coming back home. Everybody knows the love I have for the club. It's going to be a weird one.
"I came back here with Barcelona but that was a competitive game.
"On Sunday it's going to be a friendly one. It's going to be a bit different.
"But whenever I come back here, I always get goosebumps. I was on the field and it was kind of weird, I won't lie.
"It's going to be pretty emotional, every time I come back here it's the same. It's going to be a difficult game but we are going to try our best."
Four years after Henry quit Arsenal for Barcelona in a £17million switch, Wenger and Arsenal fans are now being tormented by the prospect of Cesc Fabregas swapping North London for the Nou Camp.
But Henry, 33, clearly has picked up some of The Boss' ways as he defended questions about the saga with a straight bat.
The Arsenal legend, who moved to the MLS with the Red Bulls 12 months ago, said: "I'm not going to enter this type of discussion.
"Ask The Boss about it. I already made the move. Now I'm out of the limelight. I'm not on the back pages any more.
"I'm not on the third from the back, fourth from the back, fifth from the back, sixth from the back.
"Trust me, after all the publicity you have in Europe, that doesn't bother me."
But Henry is backing Wenger's new signing Gervinho to hit the headlines this season - and he believes Wenger has bought a real talent.
The Ivory Coast striker joined the Gunners from French club Lille for £10.5m earlier this month.
Henry said: "I've known about him for a very long time. He's a good player.
"He's skilful, versatile and you'll see that in one-on-one situations. He's going to kill a lot of defenders in this league.
"He's fast, has great vision and everything to succeed at Arsenal.
"He is an Arsenal player and Arsene doesn't buy players who won't fit in his team.
"The fans will be excited by him. He can light up a stadium. He can play anywhere."
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