Thierry Henry questions Arsenal’s failure to reach a final in recent seasons | OneFootball

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says questions over manager Mikel Arteta’s lack of trophies are fair.

The Gunners have not lifted silverware since 2020, when Arteta’s side beat Chelsea to lift the FA Cup.

They have come very close in the past three seasons, finishing as runners up in the Premier League in each of those campaigns and also reached the Champions League semi-finals last season.

But Henry, who won two league titles with the club before leaving for Barcelona, says he understands some of the criticism aimed at Arteta and his team.

“I understand that at the very beginning [for Arteta] you arrive and it’s not your team, you need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to,” he said on the Stick to Football podcast.

“Now, for the last three years, Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in or a final.

“Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final. So, I do understand when people ask the question, ‘Surely you should compete for a trophy?

“I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing.”

The former Arsenal skipper also called on the club to go out and add a striker in the summer to boost their chances of winning silverware.

“When you look at the injuries [for Arsenal] and the players that came, [Arteta] brought players – he got Sterling when everyone wanted a no9, and he had time to get a no9,” Henry said.

“I’m not the coach, I don’t know the discussions, but everyone has been screaming for a number nine, apart from when we win.

“When we beat Real Madrid, we don’t need a number nine apparently. I don’t understand the way people change the way they talk – we need a number nine when we’re not scoring and then suddenly, we go on a winning run, and no one mentions it. [Arsenal] need a number nine, a proper number nine.”