An interaction between Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has caused quite the stir in some pockets of social media.
24 hours after the Gunners lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Emirates Stadium, Yamal showcased his qualities with a scintillating display in Barcelona's 3-3 draw against Inter in the other semi-final first leg.
The Italian champions were 2-0 up after just 20 minutes but the 17-year-old dragged his side back into the game with a delightful run and left-footed finish.
Ferran Torres equalised soon after and a Denzel Dumfries header looked to have put Simone Inzaghi's side back in control of the tie only for Raphinha to force an own goal by Yann Sommer moments later. Yamal had a great chance to win the first leg but his looping effort struck the bar.
After the thrilling stalemate, Yamal spoke to CBS Sports where Henry made a very specific request and the Barcelona star then replied with one of his own. "I'm going to watch the [El] Clasico [Barcelona vs Real Madrid], would it be possible for you to give me your shirt, for my son?"
Yamal replied: "I'll have to do a swap, you have mine and I'll have yours. The Barça one, I suppose?," Henry questioned.
"Barcelona, the Arsenal shirt, whichever one you want," the teenager responded. Given the fact he has spent his entire career at Barcelona, it is certainly interesting he was open to having an Arsenal shirt.
Based on that reply, it is quite clear he is a huge fan of Henry with Bukayo Saka unsurprisingly of a similar opinion. “I think for me, the biggest thing I take when I speak to Thierry is the confidence that he has in himself," he admitted before Arsenal faced Real Madrid.
“Obviously, he gives me a few details on certain situations on the pitch and what he sees and how he sees the game. But for me, when I speak to him, I like the way he’s so confident.
“He genuinely believed that when he was on the pitch, no one could stop him. I think with that belief, he literally just destroyed the league. So, that’s what I admire about him the most.”
Saka and Yamal could end up meeting in the final at Allianz Arena but both Arsenal and Barcelona don't seem to be the favourites to advance from their respective semi-finals. That is because neither PSG or Inter lost away from home and now have the home advantage for the second leg.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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