Henry tipped for Arsenal loan

Thierry Henry has reportedly agreed in principle to return to Arsenal on loan from New York Red Bulls in January.

Arsenal are aiming for their all-time leading goal-scorer to begin his second loan in consecutive seasons on January 1.

Henry is understood to have told Arsenal he wants to return to the Emirates Stadium and the club are now thrashing out a temporary agreement with the Red Bulls.

The key sticking point is the length of the loan, with Arsene Wenger keen to have the 35-year-old for as long as possible.

The MLS club have reportedly given the go-ahead for Henry to join for a similar six-week period to last season but they are reluctant for the Frenchman to be allowed an extension to his stay much beyond mid-February.

Henry is due back in New York to honour the final year of his contract with the Red Bulls, where the season runs from March to November.

However, discussions are more advanced than at this time last year and there should not be a repeat of the hitches which held up the deal in late December and early January in 2011/12.

As a result of medical and insurance issues, the forward’s registration did not go through until January 7 and the first of his seven substitute appearances was in the 1-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup two days later, when he came off the bench to score a late winner.

Arsenal and Henry are confident he can make an even bigger impact than his output of two goals – a third strike was later chalked off retrospectively – in seven games last season.

Wenger decided to make a move for the club’s 228-goal record scorer after being struck by his condition and sharpness during a few training sessions at London Colney in November following’s Henry third season in New York.