Thierry Henry gives us his views on being back at Arsenal. The Frenchman has signed a two month loan deal at The Emirates and is delighted to be back.On being back…
It's kind of unreal to be honest, it's all happened so
fast. The boss spoke to me before the Wolverhampton
game and I had to think about it to be honest. I came to the decision that I
was going to come back here to help, it was going to be a loan deal. I'm not
coming back here to be a hero or prove anything, I'm coming here to help. The
boss has his squad, Marouane and Gervinho are going away to the Africa Cup of
Nations and he asked me if I wanted to fill in the gap. It was kind of a weird
one and it did happen pretty fast but when it comes down to Arsenal it's pretty
hard for me to say no. If you ask anybody if they want to come play again and
help the team you love and support, it was difficult for me to say no knowing
the part I was going to play. As I said I am not here to be a hero and people
do have to understand that. We have a team here, the boss has a team here that
are in a good position compared to what happened at the beginning. I'm here to
help the boss and the guys that need me.
I am working really hard right now to be in shape because
that also has to be done right now. I need to work with Tony Colbert, the
fitness coach, and make sure I can be available as quick as I can. I hope
people are not going to compare what I did here before. I'm going to be here
most of the time on the bench, we all know it and I'm not stupid to think I'm going
to start. It's a helping process.
On nervousness.
As long as I am on the same page as the boss, that's all
I want. The boss knows that I need to work a bit so I know I am not able to
play out there right from the start. It was pretty easy for me to accept. You
have guys that are here for a long time doing a job for the club, so yes, you
are going to have people expecting a lot. But with the boss having said I need
to do more of a helping role most of the time, coming from the bench, if I do
make it. We are kind of talking like it's a sure thing if I do make the bench.
But there is a team already in position to play. I'm not stupid enough to think
I am going to play - we all know that Robin van Persie is the main guy up
front. Obviously Gervinho is going to go but then you have the likes of Theo
Walcott and those guys around still. As I said to you, I'm just going to be a
part of the squad.
How he has changed…
It's kind of weird. I'll be honest, it's kind of unreal.
I always said I was never going to come back and play in Europe
again but when the team you love and support asks you back, it's kind of hard
to say no. But if you go back to what has changed, a lot has changed. I don't
know a lot of people now, you have some new staff around at the training
ground. I only played with Alex Song, Robin, Theo, Djourou, Diaby, and the rest
of the guys apart from that I didn't play with too much. I forgot Tomas Rosicky
and Manuel Almunia too obviously. Other than that, I did not know a big part of
the squad. You have to get used to that and wearing the shirt of the team
again. But once I knew what the plan was behind it, I was pretty OK with it.
When it comes down to Arsenal my heart will always do the talking. I was
thinking about it over the two or three days I had to think about it. If you
ask anybody involved with Arsenal Football Club or anybody that loves it, 'can
you help this team?' Whatever it is; five seconds, five minutes, 10 minutes,
being in the dressing room trying to have some input of what you know and what
you have learned - it was a no-brainer. But I did have to speak with the boss
and know his plan and I went with it.
On what he offers off the pitch…
Well right from the start, as I said, it looks more like
I'm going to be a bench player. Or maybe not on the bench but more of an out of
the side type of player. As I said to you, I need to get ready. But I can
definitely have some input out there, to talk to the guys and let them know
what it means to win. I am a competitor and that will never leave my body. Now
there is a big part of me working with the fitness coach and being ready to
help this team. I never had any expectations, even when I first came to
Arsenal, and will try to play 100 per cent whenever I get the chance to. I'm
just going to help those guys get through some difficult moments.
On relationship with Robin van Persie…
Right now Robin is flying, I can be around and talk to
him but he is doing what he does best: scoring goals. You don't want to disturb
that, you want to help that and make sure you can give him some help. He went
to the final of the World Cup and like the fans say, he scores when he wants.
When the boss spoke to me about coming back, I wanted to make sure I didn't
disturb the team that was in place. That was important to me, I am a fan don't
forget that. The team did something incredible to come back to where they are
right now, we are far from the first position but if you talk about what the
team has done since Man Utd, they have done pretty well.
I know people want silverware, but you have to think
about the long term and to think about what they have been doing for a very
long time is amazing.
Dennis Bergkamp goes without saying because of his
quality and what he was at the Club, but when you have the likes of Martin
Keown, Patrick [Vieira], Gilberto Silva, Ray Parlour, that can always
help. Sometimes people see the guys that are out there on the field, but you
have some important guys that sometimes you don't notice, but they are really
important. The main thing is giving my input, talking, helping whether it is on
or off the field.
On coming back…
It's kind of weird. Arsenal are the only club that could
make me come back and play, and actually did. I also want to send a message to
the Red Bulls and my fans and team-mates there - I said I was never going to
come back and play in Europe, but it becomes
hard when it comes to Arsenal and my heart. At the end of the day I am not
coming back for the whole season, I will be back to play with my team because I
am 100 per cent committed to winning the MLS with the Red Bulls.
As soon as I knew the plan, to come back and help because
those guys [Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho] were going to the Africa Cup of
Nations, I said in the meantime I will get fit and be ready to go back to my
team. To me it was a win-win situation. I want to help the club that I love and
support, but I will also come back and be ready for the MLS.
On how much he has changed…
I am not 25 anymore, I am not going to take the ball from
the middle of the park and dribble past five or six players. Don't expect that.
I remember Dennis [Bergkamp] and he used to be the main front guy. Suddenly he
was playing behind the striker and if you have the awareness to see things
before players, you can get away with not having your legs. If you look at Ryan
Giggs, it’s not the same Ryan Giggs who used to take the ball from the wing or
from Denis Irwin and dribble past everyone and deliver a great cross. But what
Ryan Giggs has is he can see the game, he is always available, he puts himself
in a position where he can receive the ball alone and then you will never lose
your touch. That's what I am going to try to bring to this team if I have to
play.
On the statue unveiling…
I am not ashamed to say that I cried. It's kind of unreal
because you are talking about a statue and here I am now a few weeks later
playing for Arsenal. It wasn't planned. I didn't know that was going to happen.
You can ask the boss, he said it himself - he was thinking about it but he
didn't talk to me. It happened pretty fast. The Club did what they did for me
with the statue and I still can't believe it. Now I have to play - it's weird.
Arsenal and me has always been a love story, with some bad days. Hopefully
people agree with me that there were more good days than bad days, but I just
love Arsenal Football Club. When the Club you love asks you just to be a squad
player, so be it. I just love the Club so much.
On being in some massive games…
It's crazy. I don't know if I will still be there for the
Tottenham game because I also want to go back and prepare with my team. Being
the team captain I have some duties to respect. I will have to talk with
Arsène. I will definitely be there for the Man Utd game. I don't expect to
start. The team will be what it is, but if I can give 10, 15, 20 minutes or
whatever Arsène thinks I can give then obviously [I will play]. Being involved
with Arsenal again is just amazing. Even if it is just five seconds, one
second, or just talking in the dressing room, I will give my best whatever it
is.
On closure to his Arsenal career…
For me being able to come here and train, being in the
dressing room and seeing all the training staff, I have no words to describe
it. To wear the jersey one more time, I can only be honoured. People might
think I am just saying that, but when I left this Club I cried, I cried for the
statue. I haven't cried a lot in my career, but when I do it seems that
something is happening with Arsenal. In my time here I always tried to be
honest, and I think the fans can see that. When I am happy, I am happy and when
I am not they can see it too. The fans did recognise that they could read me.
It's just me. I can be a pain at times, but I love the Club. They say love is
blind, but it is difficult for me to say no to Arsenal.Source: Arsenal Media
Source: DSG