Striker Capable of ‘Running Arsenal Football Club’

Ray Parlour believes that Thierry Henry is not only capable of providing great back up for Robin van Persie this season, but also the former Arsenal midfielder believes he could take over the north London club one day.

Henry is widely rumoured to be at the top of Arsene Wenger's wishlist for a loan signing in January, with both Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations and Robin van Persie left vulnerable with no support should he become injured.

And Parlour, who made over 330 appearances for Arsenal in the 1990s and 2000s, believes that Henry can be great for the Gunners' future, both on and off the pitch.

"He is a quality player," Parlour told talkSPORT. "He can do it and people look up to him, because there are quite a few youngsters down there as well, Ramsey, Wilshere, Coquelin.

"But the problem they are going to have if they do bring him back is it can't be like a circus because at the moment they are playing well, they are getting results and it can't all be about Thierry Henry again.

"It is one of those situations that, for me, he would be great. He would be a great substitution, with 20 minutes to go put Thierry on and if they are lacking anywhere it is upfront.

"If Robin van Persie gets injured there's not a lot of back up. Chamakh hasn't really done it, Park is still adapting to the Premier League. So if they do need players it is full backs and strikers."

While Arsenal have continually insisted that they are perfectly happy with Arsene Wenger in the managerial position, Parlour believes that Henry is the perfect future back up for the Frenchman when he does finish in his post.

"He loves Arsenal, he loves London and I think when Arsene Wenger calls it a day I think Thierry Henry will be a perfect manager," Parlour explained.

"He'd have the respect of lots of people, he'd be able to bring players in and lots of players will want to play under him.

"He's a clever man, I think he could run Arsenal football club."

Henry has been training with the Arsenal squad since the off season in the MLS began, and Wenger himself has expressed hope that a loan signing could take place when January rolls around within a week.