Thiery Henry is extremely loved by the public at the Emirates Stadium. His humble attitude made the Gooners consider him to remain as an Arsenal legend. This is what makes Henry was hard to leave the club that has raised his name.
The French striker claimed he has never intended to leave Arsenal while still actively playing as a professional footballer. Henry also acknowledged that the uncertainty over Arsene Wenger’s future became a factor in his decision to leave the club he defended for eight seasons.
“I never considered moving from Arsenal. But at that time I was 29 years old and was at the peak of my performance. I feel our important players have all left, I’m not even sure whether (Arsene) Wenger has also survived,” said Henry (Quoted from Daylimail).
Henry, who retired as a professional player at the end of 2014, admitted finding it difficult to move from England to Spain especially when he knew he would only be the fourth choice striker of Barcelona by Pep Guardiola.
The 51-goals owner for the French national team could not hold his sadness when he finally decided to leave the Emirates Stadium to join the Camp Nou.
“It was a difficult decision, I cried when I decided to move. I am not ashamed to tell this. I am a challenger, and feel that it’s time to go,” said Henry (Quoted from Mirror)
“When I arrived at Barcelona, Guardiola told me that I was the fourth choice striker and I would not be a starter,” said this Frenchman.
“I accept the challenge and I fight back. The competition makes you increase your level. People talk about luck, but you have to make it yourself. When you work hard, you get a prize at the end,” said Henry (Quoted from Goal)
Henry joined Barcelona in 2007 with a value of 16 million pounds and said it took time to attract Guardiola’s interest in entering his name as a major player.
And in the end, during his three seasons at Barcelona, Henry managed to score 49 goals in 121 matches in all competitions. He was included as Barcelona’s golden generation in 2009 who won six trophies.
In this Queen Elizabeth’s country, to commemorate Thierry Henry’s heyday, in December of 2011, Arsenal built a bronze statue of Henry’s pose celebrating his goals with the Gunners.
But this former French national team player said humbly that he did not need the statue.
“Statues are for heroes, and I am not a hero,” he said.
“I have never saved anyone’s life, I am just playing football.”
During his career in England, Henry himself was able to register himself as Arsenal’s top scorer in history with 228 goals from 369 appearances in all competitions.
Getting transferred from Juventus, Henry defended Arsenal for eight years. He managed to present 2 primary league trophies and 2 FA trophies as well as became the part of an unbeaten Arsenal team in the primary league in the 2003/04 season.
