Thierry Henry trains with Arsenal again

New York Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Frimpong take part in Arsenal training on Friday in St. Albans, England. (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal

New York Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Frimpong take part in Arsenal training on Friday in St. Albans, England. (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images)

Thierry Henry fans will surely welcome the top item on Arsenal.com: A photo gallery of Henry back in Gunners red, training with the club ahead of its surprisingly huge clash against Southampton this weekend.

Henry, donning the No. 2, took part in training Friday, returning to the club where he became a legend. Before kicking the rumor tires on another Henry loan stint with the Gunners -- he added to his all-time club record goal total of 228 while on loan in the winter of 2012 -- take into account the sign off on Arsenal's post.

"Welcome back Thierry... even if it is only temporary."

Henry is training with the club in part to stay fit while he goes through another MLS offseason (and perhaps to get another close-up look at his statue outside of Emirates Stadium). He joins a team preparing for a rather giant clash as the Premier League comes out of the international break. 

Arsenal sits at the top of the Premier League standings, much like Henry's Red Bulls did to conclude the MLS regular season before fizzling out in the playoffs. The Gunners welcome surprise power Southampton to the Emirates Saturday, with three points separating the two sides (Arsenal also has a goal differential edge of two).

An Arsenal win could create some breathing room atop the league table, especially with Liverpool -- in second by two points -- having to face Everton, the former club of Henry's Designated Player teammate Tim Cahill, at Goodison Park in a truly meaningful Merseyside derby.