Arsene Wenger has revealed that Thierry Henry, who joined Barcelona in a £16million deal, left Arsenal because he was not prepared to wait for the current team to mature.
“Thierry Henry told me, ‘Coach, it is true we have a good and young team,” Wenger admitted toFrance Football. “They will probably be very good, but I have not got more time to wait. Will the team be good next year or in two years? I don’t know, but today I have to make a decision’.
“I replied, ‘Thierry, I can perfectly understand your trouble. I believe that the team will be very good soon, but I understand you ask yourself such a question’.
“So he said, ‘I want to leave’. That is why he left. Then, it is true that the departure of David Dein had an influence on his decision, in a way it helped it.
“Thierry’s injuries also participated in his departure. He stepped a little back from the team and during some matches he probably thought, ‘We won’t win the national title’.
“Maybe Thierry felt the faith was not there anymore at certain times.”
Arsene Wenger also admitted that he never considered leaving Arsenal for another club.
Earlier this month, Wenger signed a new three-year deal with the Gunners, although he conceded that the departure of former vice-chairman David Dein made him question his future at the club.
“Indeed at a certain time I had doubts,” Wenger continued. “You always have that kind of thinking when you are close to the end of your contract.
“But to go somewhere else? No, I never started any talks with any other club.
“David Dein’s departure has been something very difficult to swallow. Anyway, David remains an Arsenal fan and he has always pushed me to stay at the club.”
