Don't shed a Thierr - I may be back

LAST-GASP hero Thierry Henry revealed he could return to Arsenal for a THIRD spell.

Substitute Henry completed a 2-1 comeback win at Swansea as the Gunners leapfrogged Chelsea into fourth.

And after his final Premier League game on loan from the New York Red Bulls, the Highbury legend joined Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in insisting he might return next season.

Henry, 34, who celebrated his 176th goal in 258 top-flight games for the Gunners, said: "You can never say never.

"I felt just like a kid who scores his first goal for the team he loves.

If Arsenal need some help one day I will be around."

The Frenchman added: "When you come on as substitute you want to help your team and change the game.

"The guy who scores gets the credit but the cross from Andrey Arshavin was perfect."

Wenger said: "He finished the story of the legend today in the championship. I hope he will add some in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"But certainly he got us the three points in a very difficult game."

Wenger joked of Henry's winner: "I felt it might haunt me as well because he goes again and people will say, 'Why did he not stay?'.

"It shows you as well that they never lose it, these players, exceptional talent survives.

"You have that at the moment with Giggs at Manchester United and Scholes, and Thierry Henry here.

"It's just a luxury to have a player like him on the bench."

Henry will return to America the day after Arsenal's midweek trip to AC Milan.

And asked if the striker might return, Wenger added: "We will see next year. Maybe he might want to stop at some stage as well."

Sunderland chief Martin O'Neill said of his side's third defeat in his 14-match reign: "It was obviously disappointing to lose the goal but I have no complaints about the team whatsoever.

"The last couple of months, their heart and soul has gone into the game.

"We are just obviously disappointed to lose from a winning position."

O'Neill joined in praise for Henry, adding: "He's been a terrific player in his time here - and he hasn't done too badly second time around as well.

"But he shouldn't really be able to score from a couple of yards out when it is kind of lobbed into our penalty area."