Thierry Henry will of course have been cheering on Arsenal on Sunday, but he couldn’t ignore a midfield masterclass from Chelsea captain Reece James.
Chelsea held Arsenal to a draw in a show of resilience, playing most of the game with ten men.
At the epicentre of that valiant effort was the right-back turned midfielder.
James was named in Alan Shearer’s Team of the Week, and has earned plaudits from all angles for how he performed against a formidable Arsenal side.
Henry is just the latest to give the Englishman his flowers.
Chelsea defender Reece James competing for the ball
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Thierry Henry says no one can match a fully-fit Reece James
One of the greatest to grace the Premier League, Henry is looked at by many players as an idol, so his praises are extra-special.
A Chelsea man through and through, James might not hold the Arsenal legend in the highest regard, but that’s more politics than preference.
Secretly, he will be thrilled to hear the words delivered by Henry on CBS after a flawless 90-minute performance.
Henry said: “He does it all. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. He alone took on Arsenal’s midfield. I think when he’s fully fit, no one can match him.”
Reece James set to be benched for Leeds vs Chelsea
“The reality is no!” 😓
Enzo Maresca says Reece James will be unable to face Leeds on Wednesday following his sensational performance against Arsenal ✨ pic.twitter.com/5Bxb9EEVKa
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) November 30, 2025
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Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice were supposed to decide the midfield battle, but Maresca’s masterstroke decision to start James in the middle is what stole the show.
Henry isn’t just saying it was a good performance, though. He’s saying that James — on his day — can go up against the likes of Rice with little fuss, and you’d have to agree after his Arsenal display.
John Obi Mikel says Reece James is the best right-back in the world
Henry isn’t the only one blown away by the Chelsea captain’s form this season.
On The Obi One Podcast, Chelsea great John Obi Mikel lays it out simply.
He says: “Now we can see a fit Reece James. We can’t talk enough about his quality, about his potential, about his ability, everything that he has.
“He is the best right back in the world right now. There is no question about that. If he stays fit, for me, he is the best right back in the world.”
Reece James celebrates with the trophy after Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The only potential fault with that statement is that James’ best position has now been called into question. He is the best right-back, but he could be one of the best midfielders too.
Whatever the case, we’re just lucky to have a player of that quality wearing the armband.