End of an Era - Thierry Henry

One fine morning as I was getting up from my bed, I just glanced outside. It seemed just like any other day. Little did I know how my life was to be turned upside down. I got the morning’s edition of the papers. The front page was full of the political back-biting and the allegations, people getting killed and what not ( Just another day in India). Then I got the shock of my life when I turned to my favorite page, the Sports page. There was the headline I was dreading –

“BARCELONA SIGNS HENRY FOR GBP 14 MILLION”!!!!!!

I was flabbergasted to say the least. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t expecting it. But for it to really happen was something else. Its like when you dread something happening & when it really happens, you get that sinking feeling. I got it checked and got all the details from the net. There was no avoiding it. Aaaghhh!!! I couldn’t think straight for a few minutes. Now my friends know what a die hard gunner (Arsenal supported for the uneducated) and a Henry fan I am, started calling up to offer sympathies and (mostly) to poke fun about the whole deal (no pun intended)! One friend Kunal (a MAN U fan, Goddamn them all) just sms’ed me a simple line - “CONGRATULATIONS”….

Leave it. Leave it…I cant bear to thing about that nightmare again!!!! Why am I writing this post? I don’t know but I cant imagine being a gunner without Henry being there. Maybe because his decision to join Barcelona (especially after that 2005 champions league final). Anyway what’s happened has happened, but just think about Arsenal? This is bigger than Vieira leaving, in my opinion. Henry, at his peak, was probably the best player in the world. Some of the goals he scored were just incredible and it was an absolute pleasure watching him. If I try and choose one game I think the game in which he scored 4 against Leeds sticks out for me. He was just brilliant that night and we’re going to miss that Thierry Henry. The departure of Robert Pires and now Thierry Henry means that Arsenal are about 46 goals down before they even kick a ball. What I would like to know is where are these 46 goals expected to come from? Last season we Arsenal fans saw that our present crop of strikers could not provide anywhere close to this amount. Buying new strikers takes time and care and I can't see them arriving before August. Does this mean that European Champions League football will be something we shall remember than take part in...?and even the UEFA Cup might be outside of our capabilities.
Oh dear, Arsenal board....you idiots…..
Now I just hope that Arsene Wenger will not buy another 18 year old, because now that Henry has gone, there aren’t many hugely experienced players in the team, and I think that experience is exactly what Arsenal FC need! Heck, if Ruud Van Nistelrooy can do well in Spain, so can Thierry. I’m sure that he will even do better. Henry served Arsenal well, and I wish him the best of luck!
Now, who’s going to replace him… ?

But these last words by Henry are of some comfort: - “I still have to pass a medical on Monday. But yes, I have chosen Barcelona. I am going to sign there for the next four seasons … for the football they play, their history, their stadium. For Frank Rijkaard, who I grew up watching. David Dein is no longer there and there is no denying the fact this has de-stabilized the team and the manager. Arsene Wenger has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal, which finishes at the end of this coming season. I respect his decision and honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein. I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly, they have supported me through thick and thin. They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club. I will always be a Gooner by heart…. ”

So, the end of an era, very much. It’s been a blast, Thierry, thanks for the memories. Now, let’s move on.