Thierry Henry was easily chosen as the most formidable player that both Jamie Carragher and John Terry had to face during their respective careers.
This revelation was made by the former England defenders during an appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. Both Terry and Carragher, who were established defenders in the Premier League throughout Henry's eight-year tenure in north London, are well-placed to appreciate the extraordinary talent of the Frenchman during his time at Arsenal.
The 44-year-old, who holds the record as the club's top scorer with 228 goals, is consistently considered one of the greatest players to have graced English football, with a wealth of team and individual accolades to his name.
It was back in 2017 when they heaped praise on the two-time Premier League winner. When asked to single out one player he found intimidating during his playing days, Chelsea legend Terry simply responded: "Henry. You would know, mate. He was so quick." Carragher then humorously interjected: "Honestly, I'm still terrified of him now!"
Terry continued to describe how Henry's all-round skills left him anxious about their confrontations the night before matches. "He was the best by far and he had everything," the Stamford Bridge hero said, reports the Mirror.
John Terry will be taking the UEFA Champions League Last-16 draw.
Terry enjoyed battles against Thierry Henry for almost a decade (Image: Offside Sports/Mark Leech/Getty Images)
"His movement, he was like a silent assassin, wasn't he, because he score with his head, go short, go in behind, right foot, left foot."
Carragher was also full of praise for Henry, stating to Terry: "He was incredible. Literally, the night before games, he would be the one player in my career that I thought, 'Pfft, [it is] gonna be a tough day tomorrow.' And you'd wake up... and no one had that effect me at all but him."
When discussing his time on the right side of defence for Liverpool, Carragher explained how daunting it was to prepare for matches against the Arsenal legend. "You would be thinking about him in a big game," he continued.
Thierry Henry takes on Jamie Carragher for Arsenal against Liverpool (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Carragher admitted he was left terrified by the prospect of taking on the Frenchman (Image: Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
"The worst position to play against Thierry Henry was right-back not centre-back because he would always be running into that left channel. You'd have Ashley Cole, [Robert] Pires..
"I think if you'd asked me, 'What was the most difficult position – not just for me, for anyone, any player – that you wouldn't want to go back to,' it was being a right full-back against that Arsenal team of 2002 to 2004."
Now colleagues at CBS Sports, Carragher appreciates sharing duties with Henry, rather than facing him as an adversary on the pitch.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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