Gunners will bring back Henry on loan
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Shanghai Daily, December 31, 2011
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Thierry Henry is on the verge of sealing a loan back to Arsenal. |
Three weeks after being immortalized in a bronze statue outside Arsenal's stadium, Thierry Henry is on the verge of sealing an emotional return to the Premier League club that made him a global superstar.
Meanwhile, Bolton manager Owen Coyle says his club has agreed on a fee, reportedly 7 million pounds (US$10.8 million), with Chelsea for the sale of defender Gary Cahill and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says the club will offer Dimitar Berbatov a one-year contract extension, keeping the striker at the English champions until the summer of 2013.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday that the former France captain will sign for the team in a two-month loan deal once an insurance agreement is reached with the New York Red Bulls, Henry's club in Major League Soccer.
Wenger is turning to Henry, who scored a club-record 226 goals at Arsenal between 1999-2007, to fill the gap in his strikeforce left by the impending departure of Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh to the African Cup of Nations next month.
"To cover for two months is ideal," Wenger said. "He has the experience and the quality. He knows the club and can help the players on and off the pitch."
Henry, who has been training with Arsenal during the MLS offseason, established himself as a club legend in his first stint before moving to Spanish giant Barcelona.
On December 9, Henry was moved to tears when Arsenal unveiled statues of himself, former captain Tony Adams and ex-manager Herbert Chapman to celebrate the club's 125th-year anniversary.
Henry's legacy could be enhanced further if he can inspire Wenger's side in a crucial period of matches before he returns to the United States in March.
The Frenchman could feature in seven league games, including a home match against Manchester United on January 22, and the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League last-16 match against AC Milan.
