Arsenal legend Thierry Henry
Image credit: Getty Images
Thierry Henry has reaffirmed to any doubters that his heart will always belong to Arsenal, despite his successful stints with other clubs, including Barcelona and Monaco.
The 47-year-old, widely regarded as one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, spent eight memorable years at the North London club, scoring a remarkable 174 goals in just 254 appearances. During his time at Arsenal, Henry played an integral role in Arsène Wenger’s legendary sides, helping them win two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and reach the 2005 Champions League final.
Though Henry left the Emirates in 2007 to join Barcelona, where he achieved his long-held dream of winning the Champions League under Pep Guardiola, his loyalty to Arsenal remains unwavering. In fact, despite his success at both Barcelona and Monaco, the club he holds most dear is still the one he served for most of his career.
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Speaking as a pundit for CBS Sports on Wednesday, Henry confirmed this during a Champions League match between Arsenal and Monaco. When asked about his allegiances, the Frenchman stated: “I have mad respect for Monaco, and that’s always going to be the case, but Arsenal is where my heart is, and that will never change.”
Thierry Henry was asked who his number two team is, after Arsenal.
His response couldn’t have been any better. pic.twitter.com/Psc2WUDPH7
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Former Premier League star Clint Dempsey then asked Henry to name his second and third favourite clubs. The former striker replied with a smile, “Number two, Arsenal. Three, Arsenal. Anyone that gave me a chance to express and have the opportunity to be on the field, that’s my team in that country. In Spain, Barcelona. Monaco will always be my team in France. But Arsenal is Arsenal.”
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Coincidentally, while Henry was on punditry duty, Arsenal were facing Monaco at home in the Champions League, with the Gunners securing an emphatic 3-0 victory. Bukayo Saka’s brace and a late strike from Kai Havertz gave Arsenal a crucial win, lifting them to third place in the Champions League table and putting them on track for automatic qualification to the knockout rounds.
Arsenal’s next two Champions League matches will see them host Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in January, followed by an away trip to Girona. After their dominant victory over Monaco, manager Mikel Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the result, saying: “We’re very happy.
“Obviously scoring the three goals, keeping a clean sheet, and winning the game. We started the game very well, and in the first half, we should have put the game to bed, but we didn’t. In the Champions League, you’ll have difficult moments, and we suffered, but with the second goal, the game was in control.”
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