For the Red Bulls, Saturday’s friendly against FA Cup champion Arsenal is exciting. And glamorous. And a huge pain in the rear.
While captain Thierry Henry and coach Mike Petke lobbed all the proper platitudes at Henry’s former team, the Red Bulls actually may be less intent on Saturday’s game than their barnstorming Premier League foe is. The Red Bulls have one eye on Wednesday’s MLS match against Real Salt Lake.
“It’s a friendly game, so it’s different. My mind is on Salt Lake, to be honest,” Henry said Thursday. “I know there’s a game on Saturday. It will be nice and everything, but all I know is that on Saturday we’re not going to get three points.”
Sure, it’s a nationally televised chance (5 p.m., ESPN2) to show their wares against a world-renowned club, but it’s really a glorified practice. Many of the season ticket holders even hawked their tickets – at a hefty markup – to the litany of locals who call themselves Arsenal fans.
“I think hopefully the stadium will be full,” Henry said. “Not having a go [at the fans], but that would be a first. So hopefully everybody can come and support us, too, not only Arsenal. But it’s what you make and what you do on the field that will make the stadium vibrate. Hopefully, we can do that on Saturday.’’
With the Red Bulls mired in fourth place in the East – one season after winning the Supporters’ Shield – Wednesday’s tilt is far more high-stakes than the high-profile friendly.
“It’s a nice thing, but at the end of the day, we’re judged by our results in the league,’’ said Petke. “Obviously it’s exciting for the fans, it’s good to test yourself against great competition like Arsenal will be, to play against a team you’ve never played against, to play a different style and a different league.”
“At the end of the day, it’s a glamour thing for the league and the supporters, and I hope they enjoy it. It’s exciting for young guys to go up and see what that level is like. But Wednesday is important. Saturday night’s fun, Saturday night’s exciting. Wednesday and on is important.’’
Don’t mistake Henry: He still holds Arsenal close to his heart. He led his Red Bulls to an Emirates Cup win there in 2011 – they tied the Gunners – and went back on loan in the ensuing offseason, scoring the last of his club-record 175 goals.
“For me, wearing the Arsenal shirt was the most important thing,” Henry said. “It was unbelievable. I felt like a different man in that shirt.”
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger joked about Henry splitting his time on Saturday.
“I came here with only one striker because I hope he could play for us maybe,” Wenger quipped. “I haven’t given up, maybe he can play one half for us.
“He’s a legend at the club, and if you ask every Arsenal fan who is the player of Arsenal, they would tell you Thierry Henry. He has a statue at the front of the stadium. There are only two or three … so that tells you what kind of impact he has made.’’
Asked about signings – including Designated Players – this summer, Red Bull sporting director Andy Roxburgh answered: “We have a number of [targets]. It’s possible. But I can’t guarantee we’ll get what we want at an appropriate price.”
He said there are targets that might be more available this winter.