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Henry could return again, admits Wenger

Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal, briefly, last season © PA Photos

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will consider bringing Thierry Henry back to the club once again in the January transfer window.

Henry, the north London club's all-time record goalscorer, has been training with the first-team squad in recent weeks, following the end of his MLS season.

And Wenger has now admitted that he could try to sign the 35-year-old for the third time in 2013, bringing him back to the Emirates on a temporary basis just as he did last season.

"He has been practising with us. Three times," Wenger said, according to the Daily Mirror.

"Will I sign him again in January? I don't know - I don't rule it out.

"I don't know if he would be interested. He is sharp."

Regardless of Henry's desires, Wenger acknowledged that he will need to strengthen his attacking options in the New Year, with Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh - who has also been linked with a return to Bordeaux - expected to be involved in the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.

"Last year, I did it [sign Henry] because we lost Gervinho," Wenger said. "It was a good connection. This year we lose Gervinho again as they are playing the African Cup of Nations two years in a row. So we will be confronted with a shortage, particularly if Chamakh should go. I cannot stand in his way. Then we will be short."

Wenger suggested that Henry's leadership qualities would be as beneficial to the squad as his skills on the pitch.

"You know what he gives you," Wenger said. "He gives you hope, especially when he comes on. That is the most important thing. Thierry is a communicator, an extrovert, very intelligent. He can only give good advice to players because he was in their position when he arrived here. I think now that this team has an exceptionally good character. There are not many flashy boys.

"What is most important is not whether you are an extrovert but what it means to you to do your job well … your will to win. I saw last night on French TV, for example, Jonny Wilkinson [the Toulon rugby player] and when you see the dedication … he's not an extrovert but when you see the dedication that the top, top players show in their sport, that's what you want … multiplied by 25."

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