Thierry Henry sends message to Arsenal fans demanding a new striker this January

Today at 09:42 AM

Thierry Henry has encouraged Arsenal fans to focus their efforts on being ‘supportive’ rather than begging the club to splash the cash on a big-name No.9 this January.

Arsenal sit second in the Premier League after 22 matches, six points behind top-of-the-table Liverpool, who have a game in hand over their title rivals.

The Gunners will look to close that gap this weekend when they travel to Vitor Pereira’s Wolves, who are riding a three-match losing streak in the English top flight.

But Arsenal are themselves struggling for form, managing just one victory in three in the league, and Mikel Arteta’s men will be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon.

Last time out, the north London giants appeared to be cruising towards three points at home to Aston Villa, only to surrender a two-goal lead in front of a shell-shocked Emirates crowd.

Arsenal were once again punished for failing to convert their chances across the 90 minutes and the club’s latest setback – which came after Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending injury – only has intensified calls for attacking reinforcements to be brought in this winter.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Wolves’ Matheus Cunha have all been linked across the window and the incessant rumour and speculation is likely to rumble on right up until the transfer deadline.

But speaking to HaytersTV at an FWA tribute evening for Dennis Bergkamp, Henry called on supporters to instead look at the progress the side had made under Arteta in recent seasons.

Asked how the current Arsenal team would perform with himself and Bergkamp up front, Henry replied: ‘I think it’s unfair to say that and do that.

‘I like to always remind people that a year ago it was the same debate.

I don’t know if you remember, it was before the Luton game, people were saying that if Arsenal had a No.9 they would have been top of the league and stuff like that.

‘It’s always a situation for me of creating chances. You’re always in trouble if you’re not creating chances.

‘Last year we were creating chances but not putting the ball in the back of the net.

‘This year we’re creating less, maybe, but we’re still very efficient on set-pieces.’

While some Arsenal fans are panicking about the apparent lack of a lethal finisher in Arteta’s ranks, Henry insists ‘it’s not always about the No.9’ when it comes to winning major trophies.

‘If you look at it well, when we [his Arsenal team] were on the run to go for the title, we also didn’t have a No.9 and it didn’t bother anyone,’ the two-time Premier League winner added.

‘It’s not always about the No.9 and I think it’s unfair when people talk about me or other players. It was our time, this is their time.’

Henry, Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer, added: ‘We just have to be very supportive of the team, say and talk about what’s happening.

‘But like I said, we’ve been challenging for the title for the last three years, we’re still doing it, against a team that’s almost perfect.

‘Twice it was Manchester City and now it looks like it’s going to be Liverpool but we’re still in it.

‘There is a team in charge to be able to find someone that’s going to be able, maybe, to score these type of goals but so far it hasn’t been that bad, let’s all be honest with it.’

Speaking after Arsenal’s north London derby win over Tottenham, Arteta confirmed that the club would be doing everything in their power to strengthen up front while they had the chance.

When if Arsenal were actively looking to sign a striker to replace the injured Jesus, the Spaniard told TNT Sports: 'Yes, for sure.

'Because we lost two players, big players, Bukayo [Saka], who can be out for up to three months, that's a long time, and Gabi, who is going to be out for a long, long, long time.'

Asked whether the Gunners will aim to bolster their attacking options before the end of the January window, Arteta said: 'We are going to try, for sure.

'We are actively looking at. I think we have lost two very, very important players, we have 14 players in the squad, and we play every three days.

'We will try but let's see who we can get.'