Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has offered a striking explanation for why Florian Wirtz has struggled since his £116 million move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz, despite his high price tag and reputation, has only managed three assists in 16 games and faced criticism, including Gary Neville calling him “like a little boy.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, Henry suggested the nature of the Bundesliga—which he described as “really stretched”—makes it easier for players to rack up good statistics due to the abundance of space.
“I always have a question mark over people who perform in Germany… if you can run well you’re going to have a lot of opportunities, goals and assists,” Henry stated.
He contrasted this with the Premier League, where spaces are tighter, and noted that modern tactical approaches—focusing on control and avoiding counters—are generally hostile toward creative, risk-taking playmakers like Wirtz.
This lack of freedom and space, Henry argues, explains why the young star has yet to make a significant impact under Arne Slot.
