Arsene Wenger ponders loan move for Arsenal legend Thierry Henry

LONDON // Thierry Henry could make a return to Arsenal with Arsene Wenger considering the possibility of a two-month loan deal for the club's favourite son.

The 34-year-old Frenchman has been training with the Londoners since the close of the MLS season in November and recently had a statue of him unveiled at the Emirates Stadium to underline his legendary status at the club.

Henry will not be required back in the United States until March and Wenger, the Arsenal manager, will lose Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh for up to a month at the end of January due to the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving him short of strikers.

For that reason, Wenger said he is considering the possibility of a potential two-month loan deal. "I have to think about that," Wenger said. "Short term is ideal for us, but I haven't made any enquiry yet. Thierry is not here at the moment. It has never come up in conversation.

"January 1 is the vital date for us. We have seven days to make decisions and I will make a decision in the next seven days on players."

Henry is regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on an Arsenal shirt, winning two league titles and three FA Cups during his eight-year spell at the club.

Henry, the club's record all-time scorer, left Arsenal in 2007 for Barcelona before moving to the United States where he currently plays for the New York Red Bulls.

Robin van Persie equalled Henry's club record of 34 league goals in a calendar year at Aston Villa on Wednesday as the Gunners returned to winning ways with victory over Alex McLeish's side.

The Dutchman now has two more games to see if he can pass Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 36 goals in a year, which was set in 1995.

* Agence France-Presse