THE ARSENAL FAN’S VIEW By his own admission, Henry is a long way from becoming Gunners boss right now – Arseblog’s Tim Stillman assesses whether it could ever be a possibility

“Thierry Henry the player was peerless. Not just because of the incredible way he applied his talent, but because he had a certain appreciation of those gifts, too.

He provided great theatre: the moon- faced celebrations, the icy glances towards other teams’ fans and players, the corner flag nutmeg of a forlorn Danny Mills. The Frenchman was a vaudevillian footballer, always knowingly winking at his audience.

You also got the sense he needed to be loved. He fed off the devotion of the Arsenal crowd. During his youth career, Henry scored six goals in one match – on the trip home, his dad chided him for misplacing a pass. It drove him to be the player he was, which explains his less- than- excitable goal celebrations over the years.

His poker- faced nonchalance looked fantastic after finding the net or as he towered over another bereft opponent. In adversity, it often tipped into petulance and made Henry a questionable selection for Arsenal captain. In a young side that needed an avuncular presence, he often scowled and pouted.

For that reason, I’ve never been totally convinced by the idea of Henry the manager. Great bosses inspire respect before they receive adoration. Sometimes, players need an arm around the shoulder, and I’ve always wondered whether Henry could adapt his style. In his playing days with Arsenal, he was often an outstanding individual – but outstanding individuals don’t always go on to become great leaders. Time will tell.”