Arsenal: Ian Wright highlights key weakness of Thierry Henry dreams

Ian Wright has cast doubt on the dreams of Thierry Henry as Arsene Wenger’s replacement by highlight his lack of managerial experience. While a little harsh, the former Arsenal centre-forward is spot on.

You would be hard-pressed to find many Arsenal fans that now want Arsene Wenger to stay.

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While respect and reverence still reverberates around the Emirates for the great achievements that he inspired throughout his tenure in North London, for the footballing revolution that he brought to this country and this club, for his character, his quality, and his commitment, there is a growing acceptance that the time for change has now arrived.

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The topic of debate has shifted. No longer is it a question of should he stay or go. It is now ‘Who should be his successor?’ That implies a recognition that Wenger is no longer the right man for the job.

There have been a lot of names linked with the Arsenal job. Even with the recent toils, it is still an extremely attractive role that many of the most established managers would be keen to take on. The most mentioned name, at least since Sunday’s disastrous Carabao Cup final, is Thierry Henry’s.

The Arsenal legend has completed his coaching badges, works as a pundit for Sky Sports, and is currently a part of Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff with the Belgian national team. But he is not the perfect candidate. There are some problems. The most worrisome was highlighted by Ian Wright on BBC Radio 5 Live’s outstanding Monday Night Club. Here is what he said:

"“Arsenal are not in a position where they can go from someone like Arsene Wenger, who we love so much, yet who you mention to some people in the fanbase and their faces screw up. They are so angry. I would not want that to happen to Thierry, because he has taken the job straight after Wenger. It would be tough. He has not managed yet so we do not know what he is capable of. This needs a lot of thought and working out. I am not sure we can go through too many more years of what is going on.”"

Wright touches on the key issue that I have regarding Henry’s managerial claim: experience. Simply put, he has never managed a senior, professional football club. He has never experienced the nuances and the details of the job. He has not toiled through times of hardship. He has not dealt with a baying media corps. He has never dealt with the stormy waters of the transfer market. There are so many aspects of club management that Henry simply hasn’t experienced.

In addition to that, there is not a more difficult or unique job to walk into than Wenger’s successor. There is not a job in world football that would demand more of an individual. Very much like David Moyes and his doomed succession of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United post, succeeding Wenger is a nigh-on impossible task. So to hand it to a man of such little experience and understanding seems illogical, careless, reckless, foolish, even.

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Yes, Henry is a legend of this football. Yes, Henry dreams of, one day, managing Arsenal. Yes, he would breathe inspiration and excitement into the halls of the Emirates. And yes, I would be the first to be shouting for his success. But that does not make him the right man for this job. Not yet, anyway. He’s just not ready.