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The Gunners' all-time leading goalscorer was keen to point out Arsene Wenger's impact on his career
Thierry Henry recently shared a career-defining moment involving former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and the conversation that convinced him to leave Juventus and join the Gunners, changing the course of his football career.
Henry recalls Juventus struggles
Reflecting on his brief stint at Juventus, Henry recalled a conversation with Wenger that showed him how he was being misused in the Italian club's setup. Henry told the official Arsenal website, "A few years after Arsene left Monaco, he came to watch a game between Juventus and Udinese that I played in.
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"After the match, I was going back to Paris and he was on the same plane. He told me he’d been at the game. We exchanged numbers and he told me that he didn’t understand why I was playing on the wing. At the time, I was actually playing as a wing-back!
"He told me I was wasting my time and that he remembered me as a No. 9. He said it would be great if we could meet again, and the rest is history."
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Thanks to that momentous flight and conversation, Henry made joined Arsenal in the summer of 1999 for approximately €16.1 million, slightly more than the €12.5 million Juventus had spent to sign him from AS Monaco six months earlier. This move proved to be a game changer for both Henry and Arsenal.
Henry and Wenger make history at Arsenal
Under Wenger's guidance, Henry transitioned from a left wing-back to a prolific striker. He went on to score 228 goals and provide 97 assists in 377 games for the Gunners, becoming their all-time leading scorer.
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Henry's decision to join Arsenal not only revitalised his career but also became a major point in the Gunners’ and Premier League’s entire history.
His remarkable goal-scoring helped Arsenal win numerous trophies, including two Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
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Henry's influence extended beyond his playing days, as he remains a revered figure among Arsenal fans and living proof of the impact of club legend Wenger's vision and guidance.
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