So, we’ve had it confirmed. A hero returns. Thierry Henry joins Arsenal on a two month loan agreement from the big apple. This is surely a sporting fairy tale?

No.

This could spell disaster and seriously taint the god-like status Henry holds with the Gunners. I firmly believe returning to your old stomping ground in any sport is a huge risk that very rarely pays off.

At 34, his footballing mind will still be bright, but his legs won’t be. The raw pace and flashes of brilliance will have gone and you will be left with a Thierry carcass playing the easy ball that leave his fans disappointed. His pace will have vanished and I fear this once genius of the game will be left humiliated by the likes of Assou-Ekoto who could have the once great Frenchman in his pocket. That is the risk.

Take my cat for example. In his prime, he was such a fine, toned animal, capable of capturing any rodent. Now, he’s a fat mess who can remember the days he used to deliver but is now a shameful, lethargic hunter who couldn’t catch a cold.

Now, I’m not saying Thierry is a fat mess, I’m sure he’s still extremely fit. But I don’t want to see him thinking he can turn defences inside out like the good ol’ days when in reality, his legs just can’t hack it anymore.

Let the good times nestle in the memory of your adoring public to reminisce about instead of destroying it with misplaced passes, desperate snap shots and being subbed on the hour for Park Chu-Young.

Take the great Muhammed Ali. Re-laced his gloves for a comeback fight at the age of 39 and was horribly smashed apart in a fight against an unfancied newcomer.

Or Michael Schumacher for example, he couldn’t leave it alone could he? He had to have a another fiddle and now look at him; borderline embarrassing for the last couple of years and has without doubt tarnished his once impeccable reputation. He failed to make the podium once in 2 years and is now disintegrating into thin air.

I personally think a comeback generally causes more harm than good. But maybe I’m saying that as a Leeds United fan desperate to see the Arsenal under 11′s turn out against the whites this weekend in the cup, instead of the great number 14 leading the attack.

Either way, I hope he does perform but fear he may look like an ageing animal who needs the misery ending jab of doom.

Craig Robinson (Leeds United Fan)