Henry backs RVP to join Arsenal legends

Thierry Henry reckons “amazing” Robin van Persie is following in his footsteps to become an Arsenal legend.

He compared van Persie’s progression at the club to his own, from difficult beginnings to becoming the Gunners’ main man.

The New York-based French ace watches every Arsenal game he can and says his former team-mate – who has scored 30 goals in 31 Premier League games in 2011 – will get even better.

He believes only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can be compared to van Persie and reckons his goalscoring ratio is “ridiculous.”

“What can I say about Robin? I saw him come in here and at the very beginning he wasn’t the easiest guy to deal with, like I wasn’t I guess,” said Henry. “But it’s amazing to see how he has improved.

"That tells you how intelligent a player he is. I’m just in admiration. Thank God he is playing for us and doing well.

“It’s nice to see a player improve. What van Persie is doing now, in terms of, not just goals, but ratio of goals, apart from Ronaldo and Messi it is ridiculous.

“He is doing something amazing. That also tells you how important it is for him to not get injured.

“He has never had a chance to have a full season since he has been here – he was always out for two or three months. For the first time he can go on a roll now and you can see the difference.”

Henry was deeply moved by Arsenal creating a statue of him to recognise his legendary status at the club. But he was typically modest as he stressed the importance of his team-mates’ roles.

But he admitted it was hard to choose which other players should have a statue made of them and was proud at being chosen after playing in illustrious company. “It’s difficult to compare different eras,” he said. “I can only feel honoured and privileged that I was chosen.

“I want to insist how important it was for me to play with some great players. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to play there.

“When you look at the likes of the back four: Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole – I am going to name the whole squad – Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord, who was underrated at the time because he was an amazing player. Robert Pires as well.

“Without them I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did – we went through a season unbeaten. Without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.”

His progression from misfit at Juventus to Arsenal record goalscorer has made him a folk hero and, despite leaving for Barcelona and now playing for New York Red Bulls in the MLS, he insists he will always be a fan.

It was difficult for him to watch at the start of the season as Arsenal struggled but he is convinced they are back onto great things again now.

But Henry, 34, also ruled out ever returning to Arsenal to play – even on loan – and refused to think about one day managing the club with his former boss and mentor, Arsene Wenger, sat alongside.

“Every time I can I always watch Arsenal,” said Henry. “It was hard at the beginning of the season but now they are on the right track and they have to keep on going.

“But I’m in pain when Arsenal lose, I can’t take it well. I didn’t like it when I was a player and it’s worse now – at least when you’re a player you can do something about it. I always watch them.

“One day I might think about management, but when is he (Wenger) going to stop? The manager is right here.

“I just came back here to stay in shape. Also you know how much I love London – I have my daughter here and I am always here in the off season. It’s perfect for me to be around the club.”

Henry - I wanted five minutes for Arsenal

Thierry Henry admits he had welcomed the idea of playing the final five minutes of Sunday’s game in an Arsenal shirt.

Arsenal planned for the 33-year-old to switch sides during the closing stages on his return to Emirates Stadium only for FIFA regulations to stand in its way.

“They have some weird rules,” said Henry. “That was the plan but the referee denied it. That is how it is. They had asked me and I said why not?

“I did what I had to do here. It is more than nice to see everyone again but it is not about missing anything. The 
Arsenal fans know that I always did my best. Sometimes it was not enough but I always did my best.”

From the invincible goalkeeper to seeing red in a European final - the highs and lows of Jens Lehmann's first spell at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shocked many this week when reports emerged that he was looking to lure former keeper Jens Lehmann out of retirement until the end of the season for his second spell with the north London.

The former Schalke, AC Milan, Dortmund and Stuttgart star would provide cover for Manuel Almunia after injuries to Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianksi and Vito Mannone left the Gunners with only two fit goalkeepers.

The German international joined the north London club for the first time back in the summer of 2003 for £1.5 million form Borussia Dortmund and spent five seasons with the club.

He made 199 appearances, with only one as a substitute, and earned cult status with his solid performances and crazy temperament.

With the Gunners reportedly closing in on a deal which would see 41-year-old ease Wenger's goalkeeping crisis until the end of the season. Me takes a look back at the highs and lows of his first spell with the club....

Highs

1. Invincible Lehmann

In the 2003/2004 season Arsenal made history by becoming the first side since Preston North End in 1888/1989 to go the entire league season unbeaten.

And Jens Lehmann, in his first season at the club since joining from Borussia Dortmund, played in all 38 games of the campaign.

While his bold style and hot-headedness led to one or two mistakes, the German played a key part in providing a solid defensive unit for Arsene Wenger's side.

The 'keeper made three appearances conceding just 26 goals as Arsenal won 26 games and drew 12 during the season.

They then went on to break the 48-match record for going unbeaten, which was previously held by Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest.

Lehmann played in 48 of Arsenal's 49 unbeaten run.


2. Penalty hero

Arguably his finest moment came in the 2006 Champions League semi-final second leg against Villarreal.

Leading 1-0 thanks to Kolo Toure's goal in the first leg, Arsenal rode their luck in keeping the scoreline to 0-0 at El Madrigal, but through sheer determination and a backs-to-the-wall mentality they were minutes from their first Champions League final.

All their hard work appeared to be for nothing though as two minutes from time Gael Clichy was adjudged to have brought down Jose Mari and the referee pointed to the spot.

It was Juan Roman Riquelme against Lehmann for a place in the final and it was the German who came out on top as he dived to his left and beat the spot-kick away.

Arsenal were in the final and Lehmann had kept a record 10 consecutive clean sheets in Europe, with the club not conceding a goal in 919 minutes of European football.


3. Record breaker

Arsenal made it all the way to the 2006 European Cup final and Jens Lehmann was instrumental as the Gunners becoming the first London club to make the final of the continent's premier competition.

While the final did not go entirely to plan for the German international, he was superb in his side's run to the Stade de France which included clean sheets against European giants Real Madrid and Juventus home and away.

He made one memorable double save against Real Madrid at Highbury from Spanish legend Raul. Not content with one stunning stop he sprawled back towards goal and clawed the ball away from the goal with his fingertips.

Throw in his heroics in the semi-final and he kept a record 10 consecutive clean sheets, with the club going 919 minutes without conceding.

Despite his sending off in the final his exploits in Arsenal's run to the showpiece event was enough to win him the title of Champions League goalkeeper of the year for the 2005/06 season.

He went 853 minutes without conceding a goal and the run was finally ended as Hamburg scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute of a 3-1 defeat to the Gunners in the 2006/2007 group stage.


4. Cup king
Lehman is the last Arsenal goalkeeper to get his hands on some silverware, in the form of the FA Cup, and he played a big part in winning the trophy back in 2005.

Arsenal beat Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in a penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes of goalless football and it was Lehmann who made it all possible, keeping out Paul Scholes' penalty effort.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated the entire cup final and on another day would have won the famous old trophy easily but it ended being Arsenal and Lehmann's day as the German produced a man of the match display, producing a string of vital saves.

The decisive moment came as he dived full-length to his right to deny the former England international and after repelling a Manchester United onslaught for 120 minutes Arsenal had the trophy.

5. Farewell appearance

On May 4, 2008 Arsenal said a fond farewell to Lehmann after he bowed out in the 1-0 victory over Everton.

Lukasz Fabianski started the match but Wenger brought Lehmann on for the final 20 minutes of the encounter.

He was given a rousing reception as he entered the action and at the final whistle he was given a standing ovation for his efforts in north London over five seasons.

The fans, despite all his histrionics, were showing their thanks for a 'keeper who helped the club go unbeaten in a season.

The German bowed to the crowd and clapped them as he left the pitch for the final time in Arsenal colours and he will

Lows

1. Seeing red

The German's short fuse but the biggest disappointment of his Arsenal career came when he was given a red card in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona.

After 18 minutes in the Stade de France, Samuel Eto'o steamed through on goal and the keeper rushed out to meet him but brought the Cameroon international down.

Lehmann had denied a certain goalscoring opportunity, but after the incident the ball rolled to Ludovic Guily to find the back of the net.

Unfortunately for Lehmann the referee had already stopped play so the goal was chalked out and the Gunners were reduced to 10 men, with the German becoming the first player ever to be sent off in a European Cup final.

The confident German was a broken man and the pained look on his face told the story. Despite being a man short Wenger's side took the lead before half-time thanks to Sol Campbell's header and they held out for 75 minutes, until goals from Samuel Eto'o and Juilano Belletti won the trophy for the Catalan giants.

2. Sitting on the bench

In early 2008, a couple of high-profile mistakes from Lehmann saw the German lose his No.1 spot at Arsenal to Manuel Almunia.

In the first league game of the season, Lehmann made a serious error after just 52 seconds, allowing David Healy to score for Fulham. However, Lehmann's blushes were spared late in the game as Arsenal won 2–1. But in his second league match against Blackburn Rovers he fumbled a David Dunn shot to allow Blackburn to equalise, in a game that finished 1–1.

It was something he did not take kindly to and he spoke of his displeasure regularly, slighting his rival at every opportunity.

On one occasion he said of Almunia: "To be sitting on the bench behind somebody who only started to play when he was 30 is not funny."

Another time he spoke of his anger about the Spanish 'keeper getting the nod in the first team: "My coach confirmed to me my impression that he uses a different measuring stick to evaluate Almunia... when I see the performances on the field, I get angry and I have to clench my fist in my pocket."

Wenger stood firm though, and Lehmann sat on the bench for four months. And the German international could not accept his manager’s decision.

He said: "At the moment I'm just swallowing it all as part of the humiliation. That's something one has to take in. But I think - and this is aimed at my dear manager - one shouldn't humiliate players for too long."

The Gunners will be hoping Lehmann is true to his words and can bury the hatchet with his rival and be more inclined to sit on the bench in his second spell at the club.

3. Mad Jens

Throughout his time at Arsenal he was largely consistent but his career in north London did not come without a few 'mad moments'.

The German could always be found steaming off his line, fouling unnecessarily or playing a fancy pass and sometimes it was costly.

In his first season at the club, Lehmann was a vital part of the Invincibles side but it did not mean he was always solid as a rock.

When Arsenal were 2-1 up and ready to seal the title at Tottenham things took a turn for the worse as Lehmann, under no threat, decided to haul Robbie Keane down. The referee pointed to the spot and Spurs earned a draw.

It wasn't enough to stop Arsenal claiming the title but it caused panic in the Arsenal ranks as they held on for the point to see them crowned champions.

4. Lehmann vs Drogba

In 2007, the German clashed with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba off the ball and all of his characteristics came to the fore at once.

With the ball nowhere to be seen Lehmann, in yet another mad moment, decided to shove Drogba to the floor.

The Ivorian didn't take too kindly to this and decided to bump into Lehmann.

What followed was something that would not be lost on a West End stage as the German threw himself to the floor.

It was a moment that gained cult status with the Arsenal faithful but led to more than a few neutrals losing respect for the veteran goalie.

5. Disciplinary issues

Mad moments were a theme of Lehmann's career in London and in the 2006/07 season Lehman broke the record for the most number of yellow cards for a goalkeeper in a single season.

The hot-tempered German collected eight yellow cards in a single season, cementing his reputation as a fiery character.

In his five seasons at the club he recorded 13 yellow cards and a sending off.

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry yearns for return to Emirates

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has admitted he still misses life at the Emirates and would jump at the chance to return to the Gunners.

Henry spent eight years at Arsenal, scoring 174 goals in 254 games for the club before moving to Barcelona and then on to his current club, New York Red Bulls in 2010.

But Henry concedes he still feels part of the club which he left in 2007 and has hinted at a possible return.

"I love the club. Unfortunately we know I had to leave the club but although I left Arsenal you never really leave Arsenal,” he told Reuters.

"Whenever I go back I feel like I have gone home, it's a big family and I became a fan of the club.

"I knew what it was like to beat Manchester United. I knew what it meant to the fans when we were playing against Tottenham, I knew all that.

"You don't get that from one or two years, you need to live and breathe Arsenal to understand that.

"It goes without saying, I would love to go back there. I hope one day I can go back, I love that club and I just want to give as much as possible to this club, after what that club gave me."

At the age of 33, Henry’s playing career is coming to an end and the Frenchman admitted that if he couldn’t return to the playing squad then a backroom role would be an option, and he refused to rule out replacing current manager Arsene Wenger one day in the future.

"I know that the day Arsene leaves is going to be a difficult one, I don't know who can replace him. That is going to be hard,” he continued.

"But, if one day they want me ... I just want to be back one day. When, I don't know, I just want to be back."

Thierry Henry training with Arsenal squad

Thierry Henry is back at Arsenal.

The Gunners legend returned to London Colney on Monday to train with Arsène Wenger's squad.
The short-term arrangement will help Henry maintain his fitness ahead of the new MLS campaign, which begins in March.

Henry joined the New York Red Bulls last year and helped them reach the play-offs where they lost on aggregate to San Jose Earthquakes in November.

The former Arsenal captain scored a record 226 goals during a glittering career in north London and was a member of the 'Invincibles' squad that completed an unbeaten campaign in 2003/04.

Arsenal hero Dixon says Clichy, Arshavin must be axed

Arsenal hero Lee Dixon says Gael Clichy and Andrey Arshavin must be dropped for their performances in defeat at Manchester United.

Former full-back Dixon believes Clichy should now be dropped by Wenger once Kieran Gibbs recovers from his latest ankle injury.

Dixon said: "We were not strong enough mentally centrally at the back and Clichy is going backwards.

"We all have a bad time at some point maybe he needs to have some time out to look from the outside. It sometimes helps

"Andrey Arshavin's body language in the tunnel before the game was not great, either, but he is not the one making basic wrong decisions."

Arsenal hero: Get Cahill or Jagielka & make Vermaelen skipper

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged Arsene Wenger to go out and sign a Tony Adams style leader, suggesting Bolton Wanderers star Gary Cahill or Everton’s Phil Jagielka would be perfect.
The former Gunners midfielder believes the current side lack leadership and need a talismanic leader and a preferably a centre-half in the same mould as his iconic ex-teammate Adams.
Although he feel Thomas Vermaelen could potentially fit the build, Parlour still feels Arsenal are a dominant defender shy of becoming Premier League champions.
The Highbury hero told talkSport: “I do think they need a Tony Adams – a leader at the back,
“I just think is there a centre-half out there like a Tony Adams who can really drive that team on because trust me when I played there and you wasn’t doing your job you got told straight away and I think that’s what they're missing at the moment.
"For me a centre-half would be great. Gary Cahill's done ever so well at Bolton, [Phil] Jagielka has got better and better, people like that.
“I would stick to people who know the Premiership and try and bed him into the team straight away.
“You look at the situation. You've got Squillaci, Koscielny, Djourou - are these good enough to go through the whole season and pick you points up. We all know goalkeepers can save you 12 points a year so can centre-halves.
"It's a very important position, they can see everything happening, they're the ones who can demand from other players. That's why they're so important."
Parlour suggests Wenger should consider giving the captaincy to Vermaelen instead of Cesc Fabregas, when the Belgian ineternational returns to full-fitness.
He said: “I think Vermaelen is going to be very important because he’s a good player,”
"He's got a great leap on him for 5ft 11, usually centre-halves are 6ft plus.
“I think it’s one of these times where if he thinks Vermaelen can do the job give him the skipper's armband and say to him ‘these are skipper's we use to have, Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, who used to drive the team on, can you do that' and see if he can do it.”

Seaman: Arsenal have some great goalkeepers

Highbury hero David Seaman has hinted that the answer to Arsenal’s goalkeeping problem lies within the club, but made clear that he understands fans frustration because he himself feels the current crop of shot-stoppers are underperforming in competitive action.
Revealing that he still makes regular tips to the Gunners London Colney training base, the former England international told talkSPORT:
“They’ve got some great goalkeepers there. It’s frustrating for me at the moment because I see them in training and I see what they are capable of.
“At the moment they are not fulfilling their potential. They are making the odd mistake and because it’s Arsenal it’s high profile.
“Since I left and then Jens came in, they’ve not really had an established goalkeeper; they keep chopping and changing.
“It is frustrating because I’ve seen Almunia, Fabianski, Wojciech [Szczesny] and Vito [Mannone]are all good goalkeepers. At the moment they are not showing how good they are.”

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Parlour: Arsenal lack in the final third, they miss Henry and Bergkamp

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes the Gunners need to be more creative in the final third, an area in which they currently lack.
Speaking to talkSport, the 37-year old explained how Arsenal play lovely football but they are missing something when they approach the penalty area, someone capable of inventing something special out of nothing just like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp used to do when they were at the Club.
Parlour, who spent more than a decade at Arsenal, said how only time will tell whether Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott can become as good as his old team mates as he stressed the importance of someone who can score out of nothing.
The Dutchman and the Englishman are currently out injured but are expected to make their comeback this month.
On Arsenal, Parlour said:

"Arsenal are lacking in the final third.
They play some lovely football, but they’re missing that cutting edge, the player who’s going to score them a goal out of nothing.
In the old days they had that with Henry or Bergkamp but they’re missing that now.
Whether Van Persie or Walcott can provide that we’ll have to wait and see. But they need someone who can score a goal out of nothing".