Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has revealed it was impossible for Thierry Henry to work at the club while being a TV pundit.
Henry was working as a youth coach at Arsenal while still in the media and eventually was asked to leave by former manager Arsene Wenger.
"No matter how big a legend you are — and Thierry is one of the biggest — you can't have a foot in both camps — and Thierry learned that," Smith told the Evening Standard.
“As time went on towards the end of Arsene's tenure, it became impossible not to criticise him and the performances.
“If you resisted it, you would lose all respect. I remember Arsene saying he wanted Thierry to stop working for Sky and commit to the youth team position.
“I could well see his point. As reasonable and logical as Arsene is, it is still going to grate when your all-time leading scorer is having a go.
“It wouldn't have been easy for all sides, but Thierry ended up staying at Sky before going off to work with Belgium."