Thierry Henry and Mikel Arteta
Thierry Henry sets target for Mikel Arteta this Season
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, has emphasised that the Gunners must secure a trophy this season to justify their strengthened squad.
Following Arsenal’s opening Champions League victory against Athletic Club, Henry while on punditry duties for Sky Sports highlighted the team’s depth and quality.
“Some teams can give them a good run for the starting eleven, but if you look at the team itself, it’s almost two teams. When you see who is on the bench tonight and you’re still missing [Martin] Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus… when you look at that, the team is well-equipped to play in all competitions.” Henry’s sentiments echo the widespread expectation surrounding Arsenal this season.
With significant investments in both established stars and emerging talent, the Gunners are regarded as one of the favourites to win domestic and European honours. “Let’s all be honest, it’s a must this year to win something. It’s a must, you can’t hide,” Henry insisted
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The pressure is mounting on Mikel Arteta, who has transformed Arsenal from a mid-table team to title contenders since taking charge in 2019.
While Arteta has lifted an FA Cup and a Community Shield, the Premier League crown remains elusive with Arsenal finishing second in the past three years.
Henry by this latest comment may suggest that finishing second is no longer enough; Arsenal must validate their efforts with silverware.
“Whatever it is that you have to bring, people will talk about the title, and I think it’s going to be a battle between Liverpool and Arsenal. You can’t write off Man City yet; they’re experimenting with new players. But you have to win something; finishing second doesn’t bring a trophy. It’s great, but at some point, you’ve got to validate what you’re doing,” Henry added.
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Arsenal’s squad depth and quality are undeniable, with Henry noting that no other team has a squad as deep as Arsenal’s.
Goals from Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal their first Champions League match of the new season(Image credit: Getty Images)
The team’s ability to rotate players without compromising quality positions them strongly across all competitions. However, Henry warns that the culture of celebrating near-success must end, and Arsenal must learn to finish the job.
The upcoming match against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on 21 September will be a significant test for Arsenal.
As Henry aptly put it, “When you play for the title, you need to go and win it — not play so as not to lose games.” With a bolstered squad and Champions League football back at the Emirates, expectations among fans and legends like Henry are higher than ever. For Arteta, 2025-26 may be the season that defines his tenure.
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