The speculation and the rumors have proven to be correct–Arsenal has sold Thierry Henry to Barcelona.
I had to let this news sink in a bit before I wrote anything about it. I guess I was waiting for an official press conference before I believed it to be real.
Alas, reality has finally hit–he’s gone. It’s really hard to picture Arsenal without TH14. He was one of the main reasons I became an Arsenal fan back in 1999. Not many EPL games were broadcasted in the States back then but when they were, Arsenal was often featured. Henry’s play just stuck out to me more than any other player. It was the way he would always magically find space for himself against defenders where other strikers didn’t. There was also the passion he exuded and his uncanny ability to carry the team on his back at the most critical times. And then of course, there was the way he seemingly put away every scoring opportunity he had. In short, for a young guy learning about the European game and looking for someone to root for, Henry was the man–simply because he was the biggest badass on the pitch.
Now, 8 years later, an era has ended. Obviously, I don’t know enough about Arsenal’s inner circle to understand why or how it has come to this so I won’t begin theorizing–I’ll leave the speculation for the UK sports writers. But there is something sad about witnessing a player leave a team that he so distinctly represented. Sure, it’ll be weird seeing him in a Barcelona uniform but not nearly as surreal as seeing some other Gunner walk onto the pitch wearing the number 14. I guess Europe isn’t into the whole ‘retire the number’ concept.
It’ll be interesting to hear what Thierry has to say about all of this. I hear whispers that a press conference will be held Monday in Barcelona.
Finally, and this may sound incredibly selfish but do you know what I’m most disappointment about in this whole ‘Thierry to Barcelona’ situation? I don’t get GOLTV, which features all the Spanish League games. Now the next biggest summer transfer will be with my cable subscriber…Damn you Henry!!
Now, for posterity, here’s some amazing Thierry Henry Arsenal moments…narrated by the man himself.
