For Arsenal supporters of a certain age, the day the club confirmed Thierry Henry’s departure is etched into the memory banks.
After eight glorious years in north London, Arsenal’s record goalscorer after which captain followed the likes of his fellow Invincibles Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira by searching for a fresh challenge abroad.
The chance on the age of 29 to affix Barcelona’s star-studded team, coached by an emerging managerial force in Pep Guardiola, proved too good to withstand.
For Arsenal, meanwhile, a proposal of €24 million for a player whose best years appeared to have been behind represented outstanding value, especially given the necessity to repay the debt gathered following the development of the Emirates Stadium.
While most assumed on the time that there was sentimental element to allowing Henry a dream move that may allow him a shot at finally winning the Champions League, Arsenal’s former managing director Keith Edelman told The Sun there was a more ruthless aspect to the choice.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal on a regular basis
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Enroll to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we will get football news tailored to you.
He said: ‘The explanation Thierry moved on was because he was losing his speed. His game was principally all about speed.
‘And when you lose your speed, you then’re dead. So, we got money for him despite the undeniable fact that he was on the downward trap.
‘It’s like Kevin De Bruyne. Would you have got been higher to sell him for extra money at the top of last 12 months? Or keep him and risk that he’d keep going this season?’
After initially struggling in Spain, Henry rediscovered his best form during Barcelona’s treble season forming a part of a devastating forward line that also comprised the abilities of Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o.
Three years after that triumph, Henry returned to Arsenal for an emotional loan spell but found a club and team that was totally unrecognisable from the teams that dominated the Premier League in his prime.
‘Constructing a team goes in waves,’ said Edleman, referring to the challenge Arsene Wenger faced within the second half of his reign.
‘In case you’ve got limitless amounts of cash, as Manchester City had, you could possibly keep a team going longer.
‘I’d argue there’s probably only 20 world-class players in the entire Premier League, which is a really small number.
‘Due to this fact, replacing world-class players may be very difficult.
‘And due to this fact, when you win things, you have got lots of world-class players because that’s the way you win things. But after they grow old, it’s very difficult to interchange them.
‘You’ve got to take a look at what number of world-class players you’ve got in your team, and so they won’t be world-class eternally, they grow old and are inclined to dip.
‘That is what I mean about things strategically.
‘You’ve got to ask the suitable questions. You’ve got to be probing. I don’t think lots of people try this.
‘Arsenal were, within the Invincible years, were really lucky because, that they had Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell and Gilberto Silva, there’s five world-class players.’
MORE: ‘I don’t prefer it’ – John Terry says Enzo Maresca is totally incorrect about Chelsea star
MORE: Man Utd set price tag for Rasmus Hojlund after top club make transfer approach
MORE: Chelsea’s plan for Dario Essugo revealed after £18m transfer
