The real reason Arsenal sold club legend Thierry Henry finally revealed
For Arsenal supporters of a certain age, the day the club confirme Thierry Henry’s departure is etche into the memory banks.
After eight glorious years in north London, Arsenal’s เล่นบาคาร่า UFABET เว็บตรง ค่าคอมสูง record goalscorer and then captain followe the likes of his fellow Invincibles Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira by seeking a fresh challenge abroad.
The opportunity at the age of 29 to join Barcelona’s star-studde team, coache by an emerging managerial force in Pep Guardiola, prove too good to resist.
For Arsenal, meanwhile, an offer of €24 million for a player whose best years appeare to have behind represente outstanding value, especially given the need to pay off the debt accumulate following the construction of the Emirates Stadium.
While most assume at the time that there was sentimental element to allowing Henry a dream move that would allow him a shot at finally winning the Champions League, Arsenal’s former managing director Keith Edelman told there was a more ruthless aspect to the decision.
He said: ‘The reason Thierry moved on was because he was losing his speed. His game was basically all about speed.
‘And if you lose your speed, then you’re dead. So, we got money for him despite the fact that he was on the downward trap.
‘It’s like Kevin De Bruyne. Would you have better Thierry Henry to sell him for more money at the end of last year? Or keep him and risk that he’d keep going this season?’
After initially struggling in Spain, Henry rediscovere his best form during Barcelona’s treble season forming part of a devastating forward line that also comprised the talents of Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o.
Three years after that triumph, Henry returned to Arsenal for an emotional loan spell but found a club and team that was totally unrecognisable from the teams that dominate the Premier League in his prime.
‘Building a team goes in waves,’ said Edleman, referring to the challenge Arsene Wenger face in the second half of his reign.
‘If you’ve got endless amounts of money, Thierry Henry as Manchester City had, you could keep a team going longer.
‘I’d argue there’s probably only 20 world-class players in the whole Premier League, which is a very small number.
‘Therefore, replacing world-class players is very difficult.
‘And therefore, if you win things, you have a lot of world-class players because that’s how you win things. But when they get older, it’s very difficult to replace them.