LONDON, Dec 25: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering trying to bring Thierry Henry back to the club on a two-month loan from the New York Red Bulls to fill the void left by strikers going to the African Cup of Nations.

Henry won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during a hugely successful eight-year spell at Arsenal, establishing himself as the club’s all-time top scorer.

After leaving London for Barcelona in 2007, Henry moved to New York in 2010 but he has been back at Arsenal to train during the Major League Soccer off-season.

Such is the 34-year-old Frenchman’s status at Arsenal, a statue of him was unveiled at the Emirates Stadium last month to coincide with the club’s 125th-anniversary.

But Wenger believes Henry could still have a role to play for the team again. Henry will not be required back in the United States until March and Arsenal will be losing forwards Gervinho of the Ivory Coat and Marouane Chamakh of Morocco for up to a month at the end of January due to the African Cup of Nations.

“I have to think about,” Wenger said of Henry returning on loan. “Short term is ideal for us, but I haven’t made any enquiry yet. Thierry is not here at the moment. It has never come up in conversation.

“January 1 is the vital date for us. We have seven days to make decisions and I will make a decision in the next seven days on players.”

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since Henry was in the team – May 2004. The Gunners are currently fifth in the standings, 12 points behind leader Manchester City.—AP

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