Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger insists the door is not closed for Thierry Henry to make a return to North London.
Henry, now with Champions League finalists Barcelona, is still idolised by Arsenal fans after an eight-year spell with the Gunners.
However, speaking to the News of the World, Wenger admitted that while it would be difficult for him to return to the club, there was an outside chance.
He said: "Of course. I hope for the club to have people of his quality.
"It would be difficult as a player because in 2010 he will be 33. I still talk to him. He was on the phone not long ago.
"Thierry does not miss one Arsenal game on TV. He even watches the reserves.
"He has a very strong link with this club. He had a massive influence here which also had a massive influence on his career.
"I believe somewhere in everybody's career one club has a stronger pull than any other. For him it would be Arsenal."
Wenger confessed that he had tried his hardest to persuade Henry to stay before he left for the Camp Nou.
Wenger added: "It was his decision. I tried to convince him to stay.
"He said, 'The way you are going you will have a great team in two or three years. But I can't wait that long. I am 30 years old'.
"He knew from training. When he left Cesc Fàbregas was 19, for instance. Thierry is very intelligent.
"Last year we had 83 points and with him we might have got the extra points that would have won us the championship.
"But after eight years it was difficult to stand in his way. When he had given us so much and had the opportunity in Barcelona we had to make a decision."
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Henry, now with Champions League finalists Barcelona, is still idolised by Arsenal fans after an eight-year spell with the Gunners.
However, speaking to the News of the World, Wenger admitted that while it would be difficult for him to return to the club, there was an outside chance.
He said: "Of course. I hope for the club to have people of his quality.
"It would be difficult as a player because in 2010 he will be 33. I still talk to him. He was on the phone not long ago.
"Thierry does not miss one Arsenal game on TV. He even watches the reserves.
"He has a very strong link with this club. He had a massive influence here which also had a massive influence on his career.
"I believe somewhere in everybody's career one club has a stronger pull than any other. For him it would be Arsenal."
Wenger confessed that he had tried his hardest to persuade Henry to stay before he left for the Camp Nou.
Wenger added: "It was his decision. I tried to convince him to stay.
"He said, 'The way you are going you will have a great team in two or three years. But I can't wait that long. I am 30 years old'.
"He knew from training. When he left Cesc Fàbregas was 19, for instance. Thierry is very intelligent.
"Last year we had 83 points and with him we might have got the extra points that would have won us the championship.
"But after eight years it was difficult to stand in his way. When he had given us so much and had the opportunity in Barcelona we had to make a decision."
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