Arsene Wenger: Thierry Henry assessment of Arsenal needs wrong

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Thierry Henry is “wrong” to claim Arsenal need to buy four new players and cannot win the title with striker Olivier Giroud.

Following last weekend’s frustrating goalless draw against leaders Chelsea, who went on to claim the Premier League title with victories over Leicester and Crystal Palace, former Arsenal striker Henry used his new role as a pundit for Sky Sports to lay into his old club.

Henry said Arsenal “need that spine” and a top, top quality striker to win this league again”.

Wenger feels while the former Arsenal captain is entitled to his opinions, they are unfounded.

“I think he is wrong,” said Wenger, who takes his side to Hull on tonight (kick-off 8pm).

“It doesn’t cost to say that. He’s paid for that. We know all the system now of the modern media, especially on TV. I know how it works, they push you to be controversial because they give you a lot of money.”

Henry has started working on his coaching badges at Arsenal since announcing his retirement when he left New York Red Bulls.

Wenger quipped: “He has to pay to come in because he makes a lot of money.”

The Gunners boss, however, insists he has heard it all before, even about the former French World Cup winner himself.

He added: “I can accept that is an opinion, but the comment on Giroud was a bit more wrong, especially because I heard the same thing being said about (Nicolas) Anelka, about Thierry Henry himself and about Robin van Persie, and they all became world class players themselves.”

Wenger insists Arsenal are “not in the need of absolute change”, but also accepts the club must strengthen, even if it just to keep up with their rivals.

“You can expect Manchester City to respond, expect Manchester United to respond, Liverpool to respond. I don’t know yet (what they will do), but that is something you have to consider,” he said.