Things got heated between French soccer legend Thierry Henry and former USMNT star Charlie Davies. As former soccer superstars turned pundits, Henry and Davies were engaged in a lively discussion when things took an unusual turn. Henry took issue with an enormous claim made by Davies and responded by shutting him down and telling him to do his research.

The debate started with a bold claim by the former American forward regarding the difficulty American coaches face in breaking into the English soccer scene. However, Henry disagreed with this statement and laid down the example of renowned manager Arsene Wenger.

Thierry Henry shuts down former US soccer star!

The debate in question took place during a segment on CBS Sports Golazo. Charlie Davies voiced his opinions, stating that American players and managers encounter significant hurdles when trying to make a mark in English soccer. While Davies later retracted his statement regarding players, he stood firm on his belief about American managers. However, this stance did not sit well with Henry, who promptly responded with a rebuttal.

“Go and do your research on how Arsene Wenger was received in England when he arrived. Just go and do your research, and then you will find out if it was easy for him,” Thierry Henry retorted. Davies attempted to clarify his point by stating, “I’m not saying it’s easy,” but was abruptly interrupted by Henry.

The Frenchman added, “No, no, it’s not easy for anyone. I’m just saying he arrived from Japan as a Frenchman. He had it hard, way harder than Bob Bradley. Trust me, and Jesse March. Go and do your own research, and you will see.” In light of this, let’s look at the story of Arsene Wenger and why Thierry Henry chose him as an example to prove his point.

Arsene Wenger had to face skepticism in England

In 1996, the renowned Arsene Wenger began his illustrious tenure as manager of Arsenal. Before that, he had managed the Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight after leaving his position at AS Monaco in France. Wenger’s appointment at Arsenal surprised fans, as they had expected Johan Cruyff to assume the role. Nevertheless, it was Wenger who was ultimately selected for the position, prompting skepticism and doubt among supporters.

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Many were unfamiliar with Wenger and doubted his ability to succeed in the English League without prior experience. Even some players expressed unhappiness with his appointment. It demonstrated how Wenger faced numerous challenges along the way. It also lends credibility to Thierry Henry’s citation of him when criticizing Charlie Davies’ assertions.

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