Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says club legend Thierry Henry and Robert Pires have only been training with his side to keep up their fitness.
Both Henry, whose New York Red Bulls side were knocked out of the Major League Soccer playoffs earlier this month, and Pires, 40, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa in 2011, have been using the Gunners’ Hertfordshire base.
Wenger has ruled out a move to bring Arsenal’s all-time record scorer with 228 goals back for a third spell. The Frenchman said the North London club will always welcome old players to the club.
“When they can join in they do. They integrate into the spirit of the team very well,” Wenger said.
“They have no real target to bring something. They just want to enjoy themselves and keep fitness.”
Henry, 36, returned to Arsenal for a loan spell in January 2012, but Wenger insists there are no plans for a repeat move this season.
“At the moment Thierry is invited just to practice when he can and when he wants,” added Wenger.
“We have a big staff, a very competent one, and we have the right number to support the team to achieve the targets. Thierry is a player, one day certainly it will be different, but at the moment no.”
