Arsenal Legend Thierry Henry Retires From Football

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has decided to hang up his boots for good and has signed a big money deal to move back to the UK and become a pundit for Sky Sports. The former France international has often been considered the best striker the Premier League has ever seen and Arsenal fans will forever remember the goals and wonderful play he brought to Arsenal between 1999-2007.

Wenger brought Henry to Arsenal after the striker had played at both Monaco and Juventus, making his début in a Monaco side managed by none other than Wenger himself. Wenger played him on the  left at Monaco, as we know he likes to do with any young striker, but as soon as he entered the Arsenal fold in 1999 he was the front-man. Despite not scoring in his first 8 games for the gunners, Henry went on to score 26 goals in his first season.

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Thierry Henry actually scored and assisted fewer goals in his second season with the club but it proved to be his break-through season, with Arsenal falling just short of title glory to Manchester United and losing 2-1 to Liverpool in the FA cup final. Henry finished the clubs top scorer but re-iterated his desire to help Arsenal to trophies and to become a powerhouse in English football.

The wonderful French striker then proved he could be the man to lead Arsenal to glory with an outstanding 32 goals in the 2001-02 season which propelled Arsenal to the league title, also being named man-of-the-match in the FA Cup final when they defeated Chelsea 2-0. They would go on to retain the FA Cup in the following season but he was unable to bring home another league title despite 32 goals and 23 assists in all competitions.He was named Player of the season in 02-03 and finished as runner up in the 2003 FIFA Player of the Year Award.

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Then in 2003-04 Henry led the frontline as Arsenal became the first team in more than a century to go an entire domestic season unbeaten, scoring 39 goals for the Gunners as Arsenal reclaimed the title and he was once again runner up for the FIFA Player of the Year award. Henry became Arsenal captain after the 2004-05 campaign led to Arsenal once again failing to retain the Premier League title, despite another fine season from himself.

Henry also crowned the final season at Highbury with 3 wonderful achievements. He became Arsenal’s top scorer both overall and in league goals, and capped the final game at Highbury with a hat-trick against Wigan to complete a memorable season. He did however fail to win any silverware that year despite reaching the Champions League final with Arsenal, losing 2-1 to Barcelona.

His final season at Arsenal was ruined by injury, although he did manage 10 goals in 17 domestic appearances. He was sold at the end of the season to Barcelona for around 25m euros and went on to be successful at Barcelona and in the states, coming back to Arsenal for a brief loan spell in 2012.

The man will forever remain a legend for the club, and was voted the Greatest Gunner of all time. Thank you Thierry Henry, you have been brilliant and we will always remember you.

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