Henry looks to the future with affectionate eye on times past

From The Times

July 28, 2007

Graham Spiers

Thierry Henry may have settled in with Barcelona and enjoyed his club’s pre-season jaunt to Scotland this week, but yesterday the striker was effortlessly cajoled back on to a familiar theme. For almost an hour in St Andrews, the Frenchman waxed lyrical on where he had been these past eight years.

After playing only ten games this year, Henry’s primary goal is to regain his fitness in time for the new season in Spain. To that end, in surroundings at Tannadice Park on Thursday that were some way removed from the Nou Camp, Henry came through his first 45 minutes in five months, even scoring in the last minute against Dundee United by prodding home the rebound from his fluffed penalty.

“I’ve been a long time out of football,” Henry said. “It was important for me to play 45 minutes the other evening and I didn’t feel too tired. My last game for Arsenal was against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League [in March] so I need to get fit again.”

Henry is still adjusting to Catalonia, and the inevitable subject of his separation from English football after eight years at Arsenal was foremost in his mind. While professing excitement at moving to Spain, Henry did not miss the opportunity to reflect on the chapter that has just elapsed.

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“It has been a very emotional time for me,” he said. “I had eight great years at Arsenal, with a special relationship with the fans, a special relationship with the boss [Arsène Wenger] and with everyone at the club. It is difficult to describe what wearing the jersey meant to me.

“I think sometimes in France we are happy just to play, but we don’t understand what a love of the shirt means. It was only when I arrived at Arsenal that I understood that. It was a special time for me.

“I’ve signed a four-year contract with my new club, but I could never come back to England to play for another club. After Arsenal, I could never wear another shirt.”

The France forward said that he did not want to go back over old ground about why he left the Emirates Stadium and the political changes at Arsenal. But English football, he said, was something he would miss. Henry has retained an executive box at the Emirates for his occasional enjoyment.

“I will miss everything about England,” he said. “It may be weird to say it, but I will even miss the boos at Tottenham – I never lost against them in an Arsenal shirt. I will miss the games against Manchester United and Chelsea. Playing in England was amazing for me.

“I won’t go so far as to say I am Arsenal’s No 1 fan, because there are people who have followed the club for years, but I will always support them. I’ll always go on the websites after games to find out how they have done.”

Asked about recent developments at his former club, and the move this week of Fredrik Ljungberg to West Ham United, Henry chose to play down any turbulence. “I don’t want to say too much about that,” Henry said. “Freddie is a grown man who can make his own decisions, but it is still strange seeing him go to West Ham. This year, though, with the way Arsenal play, and if they can stay clear of injuries, I don’t see why they can’t win the league.”

The striker rejected suggestions, after being the iconic star of North London, that he was under pressure to repeat his feats in Spain. “I don’t want it to be ‘the Thierry Henry show’ at Barcelona,” he said. “The word ‘star’ is one that disturbs me. I’ve never taken myself to be like that.

“At Arsenal and with France, I’ve played with some great players – Kanu, Overmars, Bergkamp and many others. With Barcelona, I want it to be about the team.”