‘Henry will certainly come back one day’

Arsene Wenger is certain that Thierry Henry will return to Arsenal one day - but not necessarily any time soon.

The legendary French striker announced this week that he is to leave New York Red Bulls and is considering his next career move.

Wenger is convinced that Henry has all the qualities to become a top-class coach, but he does not know what his protégé’s next step will be.

“What I understand is that he wants to reflect for a while on how he wants to go into his next life,” the Arsenal manager said.

“The only thing I would like to say is that I gave him his start at the age of 17 at Monaco, today he is 37 so he had 20 years of competitive football and that deserves high respect and congratulations. Not only for what he achieved but also for his attitude, his exemplarity and his focus on football.

“He has the right to reflect and think of what he wants to do now. He is an Arsenal man - the best moments of his life and career have been experienced here. Certainly one day he will come back here. In what role I don’t know, that is what he has to think about: what direction he wants to give to his next life.

“He has all the qualities [to be a coach] because he is intelligent, committed, he loves the game. He just has to think, 'Do I want to sacrifice all the rest of my life to be involved in that job?'”

While Wenger is sure that Henry will succeed in his next role, he does not see him returning to England as a player.

“I don't think he wants to do that again,” he said. “He has given a lot, he has come out with an image that is fantastic. I'm not sure that he wants to play again in the Premier League.”