Arsenal Won’t Try to Extend Henry’s Loan Deal, Wenger Says

Arsenal won’t look to extend Thierry Henry’s loan spell with the Premier League club, manager Arsene Wenger said.

Henry, 34, rejoined Arsenal earlier this month from the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Wenger considered trying to extend the deal but today said Henry will return to New York next week.

“I would have loved him to stay for two more weeks but he has to go back,” Wenger said on Arsenal’s website. “We accepted at the start that we would release him on Feb. 16, so we respect our word.”

Henry has scored twice in five substitute appearances to extend his Arsenal club-record total to 228. He’s eligible to play in tomorrow’s league match at Sunderland and the Feb. 15 Champions League game at AC Milan before heading back for MLS preseason training.

“He is captain of the Red Bulls, so just to appear on the first day of the season would be unfair to them,” Wenger said.

The Red Bulls open their season March 11.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.

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Thierry Henry of Arsenal

Paul Gilham/Getty

Thierry Henry of Arsenal looks on from the corner flag during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium on Feb.4, 2012 in London.

Thierry Henry of Arsenal looks on from the corner flag during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium on Feb.4, 2012 in London. Photographer: Paul Gilham/Getty