Henry for Arsenal, anyone?

Thierry Henry

It wouldn’t be the festive season at Arsenal if the legendary figure of Thierry Henry wasn’t linked with a move back to the club. Arsenal’s record goal-scorer has once again linked back with the club in order to maintain his fitness during the MLS off-season, training with the first-team at their Hertfordshire training base.

Arsenal posted pictures of Henry at their Hertfordshire training complex – sporting the number two on his Gunners’ kit – on the club’s official website.

A statement read: “The legendary striker, now with New York Red Bulls, is maintaining his fitness levels with the current squad while MLS is in its close season.

“Welcome back Thierry… even if it is only temporary.”

But while the thought of Henry back in an Arsenal shirt still makes many a Gooner tingle all over, there could be more than just sentiment behind a possible short-term loan deal with the New York Red Bulls. While Arsenal currently find themselves at the top of the Premier League, Betfair still have the ever-improving Manchester City as favourites for the title.

With Arsenal desperately short of bodies up front – you’d be looking for years to find an Gunners’ fan who doesn’t think Henry is a better alternative to Nicklas Bendtner – a loan deal for Henry could be a genuine masterstroke by Arsene Wenger at the mid-point in the season and with the club tipped by many betfair.com customers to be Manchester City’s main rivals for this year’s title.

The 36-year-old Frenchman scored 228 goals for Arsenal during his two separate spells at the club, firstly from 1999 to 2007, and then briefly on loan in January 2012 after training with the team over the winter of 2011, and there will be more than a few Gooners hoping for a similar deal this season.