Premier League title challengers Arsenal managed to book themselves a spot in the Champions League semi-finals with a narrow victory against Sporting Lisbon but Thierry Henry has concern
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry has offered his take on Arsenal's form(Image: CBS Sports/X )
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Thierry Henry has laughed off suggestions that Arsenal could win against Manchester City with the way they’re currently performing. The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what is lining up to be a Premier League title decider.
Mikel Arteta's side could extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points with victory. But Arsenal go to Manchester in somewhat of a slump, having won just one of their last five games in all competitions, while performances have also stuttered.
While Arsenal icon Henry still has faith that they can eventually win the Premier League, he has demanded improvement from the side. Speaking after the North London side squeezed past Sporting Lisbon to reach the Champions League semi finals, the Frenchman said: “I believe in what he [Arteta] said, I’m a big believer. I believe in what I see. I believe in the fire but when you talk like that, you have to do it then. But I didn’t see that tonight.
“We are through, so happy, semi-final. We never won it, I never won it so I can’t really talk about all of that but I won the league though. Go and win at Man City. I want to see that fire there. That’s the fire I want to see, I believe Mikel, yes, but go and show it.”
Asked if a similar performance to the one seen against Sporting would be enough against City, Henry replied: “Not like tonight or against Bournemouth or Brighton away or Mansfield or everything that I’ve seen this season.
“The Man City that I’ve seen recently [laughs]. We’re talking about the team that won four in a row. Liverpool came in between that, if not, it would have been more.
“Again, I do believe. I’ve been saying since the beginning of the season that this year I do believe that we can win the league. This is the biggest chance in your life to not only shut anyone down, but to prove that yourself as a team that we can.
Declan Rice
Arsenal squeezed past Sporting Lisbon to reach the Champions League semi finals(Image: Getty Images)
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“And then people will not talk about whatever word they want to use that I will not use. I do believe personally. But I’m sitting here on a chair working on CBS, there’s nothing I can do. Now, I heard fire. I want to see that fire at the Etihad.”
In finding a route past Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal have booked a Champions League semi final against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid - the first leg of that clash due to take place at the Metropolitano in just under a fortnight.
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