Arsenal legend Thierry Henry knows a good player when he sees one.
The Frenchman is one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game. He was absolutely unbelievable during his prime, and he’s still loved and adored by Arsenal fans.
Henry, over the course of his career, played with and against some of the best players on the planet. He’s now a coach who views the game in a different way.
When the France U21s boss speaks, you should listen, and Arsenal may have done that now.
What Thierry Henry once said about Conor Gallagher as Arsenal make contact
Conor Gallagher could leave Chelsea in this summer’s transfer window.
The Englishman was one of the Blues’ best players in the 2023/24 season, but he will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gallagher has been described as Ange Postecoglou’s dream target for Tottenham, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have also held talks about signing him.
In what was a big surprise, AS claimed on Thursday that Arsenal have made contact with Chelsea to enquire about Gallagher, who is said to be valued at £42 million by the Blues.
The North Londoners do need reinforcements in midfield this summer, but interest in the England midfielder definitely comes as a surprise to us.
However, one Arsenal legend is a big fan of the Gallagher – Henry!
Speaking after a game between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League in 2021, when Gallagher was on loan at Selhurst Park, Henry was asked what he liked about the midfielder.
“Everything,” he said on Sky Sports (post-match analysis on Monday Night Football, September 27, 2021).
“The way he puts pressure, the way he makes his team play, he makes the box. He has an eye for a goal at the minute, he’s way higher than when he used to play for West Brom on loan from Chelsea.
“I think he’s a player that loves to be unleashed, so let him go, let him go and put pressure, let him go and play, let him go and tackle. I thought he was outstanding.”
What Gallagher would bring to Arsenal
Arsenal are expected to be on the market for a new midfielder this summer.
Declan Rice and Jorginho are the only guaranteed options for Mikel Arteta – Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga have both been made available for a transfer. Mohamed Elneny will leave the club too.
The Gunners need at least one new midfielder, if not two, and Gallagher does make sense.
As a left-sided number eight, the Englishman has the ability to progress the ball from midfield to attack and also create chances.
His late runs into the box can be a real asset too, while his work ethic is absolutely unbelievable. Arteta will definitely like that.
On paper, Gallagher does look like a signing who would make sense for Arsenal, but it remains to be seen if Chelsea would be open to selling another player to Arteta after the success of Kai Havertz and Jorginho at the Emirates Stadium.
A move, if it does happen, will only be possible once Gallagher’s participation at Euro 2024 with England comes to an end.