MANAGER BLOCKING ‘COACH’ HENRY MOVE

ARSENE WENGER has blocked a boardroom move to install Gunners great Thierry Henry on the coaching staff until the end of the season.

The Frenchman has been primed to answer an Arsenal SOS by some board members, led by the influential Josh Kroenke, son of majority shareholder Stan.

Kroenke Jr believes the dressing room needs a lift and thinks Henry (above) would sprinkle some gold dust on a club in danger of missing out on a top-four finish and Champions League football.

Henry, assistant to Roberto Martinez with the Belgium national side and a Sky Sports pundit, has already been sounded out.

It is also understood that Sky Sports wouldn’t stand in Henry’s way if Wenger said yes.

But, so far, a stubborn Wenger is determined to carry on doing things his way and has not been receptive to Kroenke Jr’s suggestion.

In the past, the Arsenal boss blocked Henry from taking on the role of the club’s Under-18s coach. The Frenchman had offered to work for free while continuing with his Sky Sports commitments.

Henry, who has his coaching A licence, was also snubbed when he volunteered to work with the Arsenal strikers on a part-time basis. There was a feeling within the club that Wenger saw Henry as a threat to his position.

There were also raised eyebrows when Patrick Vieira was allowed to move to Manchester City to take a coaching role before leaving for New York City FC.

But Wenger has made a first move in the transfer market by agreeing a deal to sign Schalke’s Bosnian international full-back Sead Kolasinac.