Why this could be adieu for Thierry
‘ Three defeats in a row — that’s never happened ’ to me before
THIERRY HENRY will wait until the end of the season before resolving his future, but the mystique surrounding Arsenal is quickly disappearing.
‘ Wait and you will see,’ is Arsene Wenger’s standard response to anyone challenging his wisdom, but the manager’s approach is being undermined by events on the pitch.
For much of the season, Wenger has given the impression that there is a masterplan locked away at their t r a i n i n g c e n t r e a t L o n d o n Colney.
If it really does exist — and there has to be an element of doubt after their 2-0 defeat by Chelsea — someone had better crack the code. And quick.
The clock is ticking on Henry’s contract and Arsenal will need to do more than wave £ 100,000 a week in front of him to convince the striker that the future of English football is 150 yards down the road at Ashburton Grove.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s assertion yesterday — ‘yes, yes, we will try to sign Henry’ — is evidence, as if it were needed, that he will be knocking on the door next summer.
Henry is tempted, but it his future which is delicately balanced. The Frenchman wants the stage to display his sublime talents, but the Highbury board believe he will be swayed by the prospect of leading Arsenal out in their first season at the new stadium.
It seems incredible to think that a club who have won three Premiership titles and four FA Cups in the last 10 years are bargaining on his emotional ties. Things must be bleak.
They certainly are on the pitch yet the captain, as is traditional in times of crisis, is toeing the party line.
‘I don’t think we were outplayed by Chelsea,’ he said. ‘ The only time this season we’ve been outplayed was against Bolton.’
And by Chelsea in the Charity Shield, and by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge . . .
ALTHOUGHthe vast majority of the country wrote off Arsenal’s title hopes when they failed to sign Julio Baptista in the summer, Wenger waited until just after 6pm on Sunday to raise the white flag.
By then, they were 20 points behind Chelsea and, for the first time in nine years, the Professor had been outwitted, out-thought and outfought in every area.
Of the Arsenal team who started against Jose Mourinho’s runaway express, Henry, and possibly Sol Campbell, are the only players who would merit inclusion in the Chelsea side.
The rest, on current form, are second rate. Long-term injuries to Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy forced Wenger to field a right back, Lauren, at left back and a centre half, Kolo Toure, at right back. Both were abysmal.
Philippe Senderos, shorn of the confidence that earned him a place in the FA Cup Final team over Campbell last May, is bewildering after the fine start he made to his career.
Then there is Arsenal’s midfield. Mourinho has employed
two nightclub doormen —
Michael Essien and Claude
Makelele — as heavyweight
e n f o r c e r s a n d C e s c
Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini them.
‘We need to be a little bit more physical,’ conceded Wenger, with classic understatement. ‘Chelsea are more physical and more experienced, but that can be changed.’
The Patrick Vieira- Emmanuel Petit partnership has never been replaced, and although Gilberto Silva offers some protection, Arsenal’s midfield is mediocre.
In Wenger’s time, the club have never lost more than nine Premiership matches in a season. Defeat against Chelsea was their sixth this term, and they are not even at the halfway stage. Henry simply bounced off said: ‘ The game at Charlton on Boxing Day is crucial. They’re not doing well in the League and neither are we. It’s another derby and it’s vital now, more than ever, to get the three points.’
THEFrance striker also revealed his disappointment at a personal level. He said: ‘Things aren’t going our way, but that’s not an excuse. We have to keep going, but that’s three defeats in a row and that has never happened to me at Arsenal.’
They have never finished outside the top two under Wenger. On Sunday, t h e F r e n c h b o s s admitted the target is simply to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
Also, Arsenal have never finished with fewer than 68 points under Wenger. On current form, averaging 1.6 points a game, they will finish with 61. To put it into context, Everton somehow qualified for the Champions League with the same number.
‘I don’t think it’s the end of an era,’ said Wenger. ‘We can start a new one in December.’
He just didn’t say which year.
n.ashton@dailymail.co.uk