I am a bit choked up as I write.
Arsenal’s future without its bonafide star is difficult to contemplate but the Spanish media including the reputed daily El Pais is reporting that Barca has signed Thierry Henry for 16 million pounds or 24 million euros. Arsenal’s leader in goalscoring came to the decision that the necessary personnel to challenge for the title had been lacking the last few seasons and that the resignation of David Dein was a wrong step in the club’s future.
Thierry Henry’s eight seasons saw Arsenal win every accolade save the Champions League with the striker contributing more than 200 goals. But as we say, and swallowing hard as we say it, the club is more important than any one player. We will soldier on and await the next big signing that will become a Gunner legend. Because there will be one.
As overcome as I am a big part of me also puzzles at the low figure of 16m pounds paid for a superstar like Henry by a rich club like Barca. If a figure of 17m pounds is being bandied about for Darren Bent and Florent Malouda then Arsenal has been truly suckered. Are they planning to get a Barca player in return? What happened to the Samuel Eto’o deal? 16m pounds practically gets you diddly squat in quality in the transfer market nowadays.