Why Thierry Henry is not the man to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal

Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat at home against Manchester City on Thursday was the clearest evidence yet that time is running out on Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.

The grand old Frenchman has enjoyed a 21-year reign over the Gunners, but the sight of countless empty seats around the ground as his side were easily picked apart 3-0 highlighted the embarrassing apathy that now engulfs the crown. Some fans may point to the inclement weather hampering supporters’ transport arrangements, but that did not prevent the champions-elect packing the away end.

Now, it is only a case of the timing of Wenger’s departure. Failure in the Europa League against AC Milan in the next couple of weeks would increase the chances of it being hastened to this summer, but the former Monaco boss is renowned for honouring his contracts, which means the June 2019 is arguably a likelier date for his overdue exit.

Given the slump in the club’s fortunes, it is perhaps inevitable that names of Wenger’s successor are already abound in the press. Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim has been mentioned in dispatches, yet the leading name currently is Thierry Henry.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is one who believes that Arsenal should pursue the club’s record marksman to try to emulate the kind of effect that Zinedine Zidane had at Real Madrid, where he transitioned from star man to managerial ace effortlessly.

“Arsenal need someone young, fresh and hungry,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports, with Henry to his side. “And I think that man is sitting in the studio beside me.”

Would Henry want the job, though?

“Yes, who wouldn’t be interested?” Henry later admitted. “It would be a dream for me.”

Scorer of 228 goals for the Gunners and a hero of the fans, the 40-year-old would automatically bring the feel-good factor back to the club, but the honeymoon period may prove brief.

Henry during his Arsenal return

Unlike Zidane at the Bernabeu, where he already possessed a squad bristling with the calibre of players capable of winning the league, that is simply not the case at the Emirates.

The reconstruction work that is required is likely to be expensive and painstaking. While there is no doubt that Henry would command respect and inspire those around him, rebuilding an ailing team would be a stern challenge for a rookie, particularly in such a huge role. The playing squad has been allowed to slowly deteriorate while expectations, justly, remain as high as ever.

While his status as a club legend would afford him valuable time to get things right, patience remains in short supply in north London, where fans have endured over 15 years without a trophy befitting the club’s stature. Like the fans, Henry’s ambitions for the team would exceed those of the board, making for a dangerous mix.

Big six teams in England simply do not appoint coaches of such inexperience. The last time a genuine Premier League title hopeful appointed an untested manager on a full-time basis was Chelsea in 1998, when they gave Gianluca Vialli a player-manager role.

Since then, the stakes have mushroomed due to the incredible escalation of television revenue, while the demands upon managers have increased to unprecedented levels as a result. These positions are not for the green.

Some may point to Barcelona and Real Madrid enjoying success under a string of bosses such as Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova and even Zidane, but all had significant experience with the ‘B’ teams at their respective clubs.

Henry, meanwhile, has limited coaching experience. Even with the Belgium national team, with whom he is an assistant coach to Roberto Martinez, his role has largely been about passing on advice to players as opposed to setting up detailed sessions or being involved in the tactical workings of the side.

That is not to say, however, that there are not aspects of Henry that would make him an attractive appointment. While the most obvious of all of these is that he is an icon of the club, perhaps more important is that he could link the Wenger of Arsenal with a new team of the future without the club losing its identity.

Henry with the golden boot

Henry is steeped in the ideals of the team but, as a player, could not stomach losing in the tepid way they have too often done of late. Furthermore, in stepping away from a position as a youth coach following an ultimatum from Wenger, he has shown that he is willing to be his own man and will not be held in thrall by the Frenchman, who has been tipped to move upstairs rather than relinquish an interest entirely.

But despite this, there are others more qualified than the club’s record scorer, who would be thrust into that position almost by reputation alone.

Mikel Arteta, for example, Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, has the type of hands-on experience Henry is lacking and the punch of an impressive playing career, which included a five-year spell at Arsenal.

Jardim at Monaco, meanwhile, may lack the star appeal but has upset the odds to win Ligue 1 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain on a relative shoestring budget, all the while playing in a thrilling manner balanced with pragmatism.

Both should stand ahead of Henry in the pecking order.

The Gunners’ record scorer should not be discounted as a future manager of the club, but this is not his time. The Arsenal job is not one for a rookie, no matter the iconic status.