Wenger is not Arsenal’s problem – Henry

Former Arsenal captain, Thierry Henry, has said that manager Arsene Wenger is not the club’s problem, but says he must address the team’s weak mentality.


The Gunners are now 12 points behind leaders Chelsea following a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. It was a second successive loss within a week, after they were beaten 2-1 by Watford at the Emirates.

“Does this team have enough to win the Premier League? It can be debated. On paper, yes. If Chelsea is ahead, Arsenal also can be,” Henry said on RMC.

“But it is necessary to be in tune with all the players, to work in training. This team is not aware of what they can achieve. There must be self-management and self-discipline.

“I don’t think Arsene has to leave. Should he change his tactics and his way of doing things? I don’t know. But what he must do there is mental work. The tactics help, but what I saw against Chelsea is a mental problem. This is not easy to manage. The problem is more mental than quality. Because if Leicester can win the championship… For now, it is true that they are missing something. Statistics are there to prove that.”

Henry also reiterated his ambition to coach Arsenal in the future.

“If I were to tell you that I don’t want to coach Arsenal, I would be lying,” he said.

“But I have not done anything yet. I think about it, but it’s far away, let me learn, we’ll see later.”