Wenger hints at extending Henry loan

Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out extending Thierry Henry’s loan spell at Arsenal from New York Red Bulls.

The former France international has rejoined the Gunners on a two-month loan and is currently scheduled to return to the US ahead of the new MLS season on March 10.

The signing of Henry provides valuable cover in attack as Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are set to travel to the Africa Cup of Nations, representing Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.

Park Chu-Young, new to the Premier League, would otherwise be the only striker available to cover for Robin van Persie.

When asked if Henry might stay until the end of the season in a manner similar to David Beckham’s loan spell at AC Milan in 2009 from LA Galaxy, Wenger told reporters: “Let’s hope we have the problem.

“If we have a problem then it means he has done well so I hope we will have the problem. But at the moment I can just say no, it is not envisaged at all.”

“Milan might have negotiated that in advance but we have not done that. We have promised that we send the player back so we have not spoken about that at all.”

The club legend is expected to feature in Monday’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Leeds, and Wenger wants success in the competition, but is not preoccupied with the club’s failure to win a trophy since 2005.

“It has always looked like ‘Ah, you have not won a trophy so you have been nowhere for five years’,” he said.

“But in the same five years we have been in the semi-finals of the Champions League and final of the Champions League.”

“You will realise one day that it is not as easy as it looks and this year we are again one of the two teams who qualified.”

“At the level we are, with the wages we have, and the aspirations we have, (the aim) is to play in the Champions League. After that you want to win all the other trophies.”

Wenger said it was more important to focus on the future than bask in past glories.

“I don’t know where I have my medals,” he said.

“I don’t think I keep them. It’s more important what is in front of you.”