Thierry Henry could return to Arsenal as a coach

returning ???

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he would welcome Thierry Henry back to the club as a coach -- if the Arsenal legend is serious about forging a career on the training pitch.Henry, the Gunners' all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions, has had two spells as a player firstly between 1999 and 2007 before an emotional, short loan spell at the start of 2010.The 37-year-old is still playing in Major League Soccer with New York Red Bulls, who face New England Revolution in the first leg of the MLS playoff Conference final on Sunday night. While he is expected to leave the club at the end of his contract later this year, the striker has not yet made a decision on retirement from playing.

Asked if he would welcome Henry back for a third time, this time as part of his coaching staff, Wenger did not rule out the prospect."It's not impossible -- I welcome people who have played for us to come back, but they need to do something," Wenger said. "Not an honorary job. It has to be a job available and one that you get up in the morning and you have to do something.

"He has to learn his job first. I have seen so many people who have the qualities to be a manager but not survive their first job because they are not ready. When you are a football player, you think it's so simple to be a manager. When you are a manager, you think it's so complicated suddenly and, if you're not prepared for that, you cannot survive.

"You learn to handle a dressing room and people. This job is about ideas and putting them into practice. You can only do that if you have the responsibility of the team."

Henry, meanwhile, believes Wenger will only be truly appreciated for his achievements with the Gunners when he is no longer their manager.Wenger signed Henry in 1999 for a then club-record fee of around 11 million pounds from Juventus and he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups before joining Barcelona.

Henry's departure coincided in a less successful period for the North London side and even though Wenger has managed to guide the Gunners to Champions League group-stage qualification for 17 consecutive seasons, some Arsenal fans questioned the Frenchman's tenure given their failure to land silverware for nine years until last season.

Arsenal finally ended that trophy drought by winning the FA Cup and Henry believes Wenger is a victim of his own success to a certain extent given that he won major honours earlier on during his reign."When you give people a lot they get used to it and they just expect and demand and rightly so because when you're at a club like Arsenal people expect and want you to win and that's the way it is,'' Henry told the BBC's Football Focus.

"For me it's a no-brainer, the guy [Wenger] has changed Arsenal Football Club. Was Arsenal successful before? Yes they were, but in a different way. Now Arsenal is recognised for the type of football they play and that's all down to him.''

Arsenal-Man United WAS a title showdown, Saturday's game could be a Europa League play-off

strong upfront weak at backyard

Once upon a title race, Arsenal v Manchester United would settle the destiny of the Premier League crown.

Both teams are now so ­threadbare defensively, ­Saturday’s early-evening date at the Emirates could settle which of them plays in the Europa League on Thursday nights next season.

Think of all the great defenders who have played in this fixture since the turn of the century – Adams, Campbell, Keown, ­Ferdinand, Vidic – and then consider the chances of a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

If you had to pick a combined Arsenal-United XI from the clubs’ current squads, you would be hard-pressed to come up with a decent back four.

Now think of all the forward talent and firepower at Arsene Wenger and Louis van Gaal’s disposal – Walcott, Sanchez, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Di Maria, Falcao, Rooney, Van Persie – and the ­potential for an avalanche of goals is huge.

Somewhere along the line, both teams will have to address the art of defending if they want to finish in the top four.

whose the mastermind ???

Everyone else in north London can see his Gunners have lacked a dominant centre-back and a top-class defensive midfielder this season. Why can’t Arsene Wenger see it?

And for all the entertainment his Gaalacticos have given us, the United manager’s biggest priority now is to get the balance right.

Here we are, more than three months into the campaign, and it is shocking that a team of ­Man United’s pedigree has yet to win away from home this season - in any competition.

That is absolutely diabolical.

Van Gaal should be ashamed of United’s away record - and I don’t see them breaking their duck at Arsenal.

Admittedly, United have severe injury problems, but I look at both squads now and wonder how on earth they are going to keep a clean sheet.

There will be no shortage of spice – Robin van Persie is going back to his old club and Danny Welbeck will be fired up to prove United should not have sold him in August.

But I will also be monitoring Jack Wilshere’s influence on the game.

Earlier this season, I said in this column that he needed a run of games for club and country to find his best form and establish his best position.

For me, it was significant that he produced back-to-back performances for England against Slovenia and Scotland this week – because he has some wind in his sails. Wilshere is up and running. It looks like we are finally coaxing the genie out of the lamp.

Now I would like to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoy a similar run of good fortune. He scored a fantastic goal for England in Glasgow on Tuesday, a perfect example of a midfielder getting his reward for running in behind defenders.

Arsenal striker Giroud fit to face Manchester United

time to return ...

The France international has made a quicker than expected recovery from a broken foot and could feature against Louis van Gaal's side at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that striker Olivier Giroud is fit to face Manchester United on Saturday.
Giroud has been out of action since breaking his foot in a 2-2 draw with Everton in August but has returned to fitness ahead of schedule.
The Gunners take on Louis van Gaal’s side at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday but Wenger has refused to confirm if he will feature against the Red Devils.
“[Olivier] Giroud and [Mikel] Arteta are both available. It's just a question of how ready they are. But they are available,” he told reporters.
“He is three or four weeks ahead of schedule. Originally we planned to have him back for competition at the beginning of next year. So he's one month ahead.”
However, Arsenal still have injury concerns going into the game, particularly in defence as they aim to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City last time out.
“[Laurent] Koscielny and [Mathieu] Debuchy are doing well, they are out on the field [working] again,” added Wenger.
“We have to see now. Usually field work is three weeks away from full group training. Then there is fitness.

“It looks straightforward for Debuchy. It's not inflammation, it's just repairing surgery. For Koscielny, it depends how well he responds to training.

"At the moment he looks good. Ozil is doing well but he will not be ready before the start of 2015.”

Arsenal, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are options for Praet, says agent

next destination ??Arsenal,liverpool??

Jacques Lichtenstein says the promising midfielder will not be forced into a move but admits he has outgrown Anderlecht

Arsenal, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are among a host of clubs who could be a transfer option for Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet, according to his agent.

The 20-year-old has impressed for the Belgian champions since arriving from Genk, helping them to three league titles and three Belgian Super Cups since his move in 2010.

And after making his international debut against Iceland, Jacques Lichtenstein has admitted his client would be suitable for a number of clubs - including the Gunners, whom he has faced already in the Champions League this season.

"Dennis will not go just anywhere," he told Sport. "Clubs like Valencia, Liverpool, Arsenal or Atletico Madrid are eligible, not Dinamo Kiev (who have been linked with the midfielder).

"He is not so far from the level of a club like Arsenal, where they can give him a year adjustment period."

Despite listing clubs who would be suitable, Lichtenstein was quick to deny that the youngster is eyeing up a move.

And though he questioned what else he could learn at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, he revealed he would not force a transfer on the player.

"What more can he gain by spending one more campaign at Anderlecht after contributing to three back-to-back titles?

"But I will never push a player in the direction of a transfer. You make a career of 20 years with the vision for the long term."

Di Maria an injury concern for Arsenal clash

is he injured??

The Argentine winger suffered a blow to his foot following a challenge from out-of-favour Manchester United team-mate Nani and he could now be a doubt for Saturday's fixture.

Angel Di Maria is an injury concern for Manchester United's crunch clash with Arsenal on Saturday after picking up a knock in Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Portugal.

The former Real Madrid star suffered a blow to his foot following a hefty challenge from United team-mate Nani, who is currently on-loan with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, but carried on until the 61st minute.

Di Maria was eventually replaced by Tottenham winger Erik Lamela and there are now question marks over whether the 26-year-old will be fit in time to start for Louis van Gaal's side at the Emirates Stadium.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino commented after the game: "We don't think it is anything serious. It was quite a tough blow he took. It was a tough knock. It cut the skin a little bit.

"We are having a look at some X-rays, some images that have been taken but in spite of that we don't think it is too serious."

Di Maria himself said: "It was just a blow. I hope it doesn't swell anymore so I can play at the weekend."

Wenger can make me a better player at Arsenal, insists Ozil

The 26-year-old insists he completely trusts the Frenchman's methods and maintains he is not affected by criticism of his performances from the media

The 26-year-old, who joined from Real Madrid in a club-record €53 million (£42.4m) deal in September 2013, is currently sidelined with a knee injury and is set to return in January.

Ozil has been criticised for his performances since his move to the Premier League but the Germany international claims Wenger is key to his development.

“He [Wenger] knows what he wants and I know he can bring me a step forward; he trusts me in that way and I trust him, completely,” Ozil told Esquire.

“I’m proud to be part of this team.”

Ozil also maintains he is not affected by criticism from the media.

“I’ve been in this business so long now. I’ve been a professional since I was 16, 17,” he said.

“I don’t care what the press thinks about me as football changes from day to day. You can play well one day and badly the next. I’m used to it.”