Arsenal consider return of Thierry Henry (again) - Telegraph.co.uk

This summer Henry expressed interest in returning to the Emirates, where a statue of him stands. "I would like to go back to England with Arsenal for sure. I wasn't planning to go back to play last season. I was there to train and they asked me if I wanted to play. Who knows what might happen in the future. I've not yet spoken to Arsène about it so I don't know what capacity I could go back in."

Henry's loan stay earlier this year proved a happy and productive one. He scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute against Leeds in the FA Cup, made a further six substitute appearances, and in his last league game for the club scored an injury-time winner against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

"He is a communicator, Thierry," Wenger said. "He is an extrovert type. Very intelligent, so of course he can only give good advice to players, because he was in that position when he arrived here."

Yet Wenger denied that Henry's prospective arrival was an admission that his current squad lacked extroverted, charismatic, talismanic players of his ilk. "This team has an exceptionally good character," he insisted.

"There are not many flashy boys, but for me what is most important is not whether you are an extrovert or not, but how much it means to you to do your job well, to win and be perfect."

In that respect, Wenger revealed his admiration for an athlete from a different sport, currently plying his trade in France: Jonny Wilkinson. "I saw Wilkinson last night on Canal Plus in France," Wenger said. "He's not an extrovert, but you see the dedication that top, top players show in sport. That's what you want, multiplied by 25."

Arsenal will seal qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night if they beat French champions Montpellier at home and Schalke beat Olympiakos at the Veltins-Arena.

"There is no space for weak games or for another home defeat," said defender Per Mertesacker. "The group is still open, and we have to show we can go through and make clear that Arsenal will go to the next round."