There was plenty of Arsenal interest in the Men’s Football final at the 2024 Olympics, with Thierry Henry and Alexandre Lacazette involved.
Henry was managing the France side as they hosted the tournament, with Lacazette called up as the captain of the young team.
Both former Arsenal strikers also captained the club in the latter stages of their spells in North London, although Henry was a lot more successful than Lacazette, going down as arguably the best player in Premier League history.
Henry has struggled to make a similar impression in his coaching career so far, although this Olympics Tournament was perhaps his most enjoyable time as a manager as he helped France reach the final.
France did find a last-minute equaliser through Jean-Philippe Mateta to take the final against Spain to extra time, but they ultimately lost 5-3. Nevertheless, they have still made history.
Thierry Henry and Alexandre Lacazette win Olympic silver medals
For the first time in France’s Olympic history, their men’s football side won medals, as by finishing as runner-ups to Spain, the French team were awarded silver medals.
Despite the result in the final, Lacazette focused on the positives from what was an entertaining tournament as hosts.
“From the beginning, I said we were aiming for gold, always aim high,” he told reporters at full time.
“It’s still a great adventure, especially for I hadn’t worn the blue jersey in a few years. I’m going to try to keep only positive and happiness.
“We have had, after our goal in the first period, a hole for several minutes that we lack. But the game is over, it doesn’t There is no point in coming back to it, the adventure is over. Let’s go try to positive, to keep beautiful pictures over these two months that we all spent together.
“We wanted to stay in the story with this medal. of gold. That is what is a little difficult today. We know that there is a positive thing, but also that the fact of having lost us remove some of this satisfaction.”
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry proud of his France squad despite Olympics defeat
Henry recognised the quality of the Spain side his team lost to in the final, and like Lacazette, he focused on the positives.
“There is one thing that is super important to me, it is that the team fought,” he stated.
“We played a match, at the beginning we did not have the impression that it was going to be a match, and we made it a match where it was decided by very little. But we cannot say that this team did not fight.
“And so this group, whatever happens, we know that we will never find ourselves together again like that, it’s just impossible, we know that, but this group is for life for me.”
Henry found himself in a tough position, as several key France players were not allowed to join his Olympics squad by their clubs. Real Madrid refused to let Kylian Mbappe participate, whilst there were no favours from his old side as Arsenal denied him access to William Saliba.
His side did make the final, and were perhaps unlucky not to snatch a win in what was a dramatic game, and despite this, competing on the big stage as hosts was the highlight of Henry’s managerial career.
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