ARSENAL legend Thierry Henry says he has never backed away from a challenge and that would not change if he was asked to take over from Arsene Wenger.
The under-fire boss is trudging through his worst season of his 22 years as boss of the Gunners – causing his future to become a topic of intense speculation.
For the first time since 2002 the North London outfit lost four successive games in all competitions after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday and became officially eliminated from the title race.
But his compatriot and Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer Henry remains a staunch supporter of his former manager.
Henry – currently working as an assistant to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez – was asked on Sky Sports if he would consider taking the Arsenal job should the opportunity arise.
The former France forward said: “Listen, I’m a competitor, you don’t back down from a challenge.
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“We are hypothetically speaking before people jump ahead of everything, [but] I have never backed down from a challenge since I was young.
“If I had listened to people who were talking about where I was going to be, I would not have been here.
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“When I arrived at Arsenal they said to me ‘Why are you outside of the box? You will never score goals.’ with my position being on the left or whatever it was. You don’t back down from a challenge, you always think you can.
“When I came back to play for Arsenal, everybody, all my friends were saying, ‘It can only tarnish your legacy, why are you going back there?’.
“If you love a place and they ask – I repeat, they ask – for help, you are always going to say yes. What I am saying to you is again, we are talking about hypothetical thoughts.”
Having won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and four Golden boots under Wenger, Henry is desperate for the veteran boss to be given the final say on his future.
The 40-year-old added: “We are talking about shall he quit or not – I can never say that. I am not sitting on the fence, I can never say that.
Arsenal's season of struggles
- Arsenal eliminated from the title race at earliest point of the season in their history of 38-game campaign
- First time since 2002 Arsenal have lost four consecutive games in all competitions
- For the first time since 1925 Arsenal have lost four away league games at the start of a calander year
- Arsenal have recorded their worst away record in the top-flight since 1989-90 taking 13 points in 15 league games
“I have battled with this man, I can never say that. Do you understand what I mean? I can never say that.
“What I don’t want to see is what’s happening to him, and I would like him to have the last word, whatever word it’s going to be.”
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