The Gunners icon announced his retirement on Monday and the French coach believes his old charge now faces a tough task trying to cope with life after football

Arsene Wenger believes Thierry Henry could struggle to adjust to retirement, having called time on his illustrious playing career on Monday.

The former Arsenal striker won three Premier League titles with the Gunners, the Champions League with Barcelona and the 1998 World Cup with France.

Wenger has previously admitted that Henry could return to the Gunners as a coach, but the 63-year-old readily concedes that the star will find it difficult to live up to his playing reputation in whatever role he chooses to undertake in the future.

“I congratulate him on what he did,” Wenger told RMC. “Life doesn’t stop now. Unfortunately for him, I think he will have to be extremely strong to have the same success in his new life that he had as a player.”

However, Wenger believes Henry has the “intelligence” to succeed should he decide to remain in football, having seen him develop from an underperforming winger into one of the best strikers in the world during his time at Arsenal.

“Henry a coach? He has to learn the job,” Wenger continued. “But why not? He has to choose.

“You have to learn your job and for this, you have to be the head of a team.”

When asked again if Henry could learn his trade at his former club Wenger replied: “I already have a big staff.”