Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s greatest ever player.
The French superstar spent eight years as a Gunner under Arsene Wenger, and he dominated the Premier League in that period.
Henry broke several records at Arsenal, and every fan of the club will tell you that he was better than all the other players they had seen don the famous red and white before him.
That’s probably why the Arsenal legend thinks that many people have forgotten about one former player.
Thierry Henry says people ‘sleep’ on how good Nicolas Anelka was at Arsenal
Before Thierry Henry joined Arsenal, Nicolas Anelka was the French superstar striker Arsene Wenger had unearthed.
The legendary Gunners boss signed Anelka from PSG for just £500,000, and he made it look easy against the best defenders in the Premier League.
The Frenchman only stayed two-and-a-half years at Arsenal, but he helped the Gunners win three trophies – a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a Community Shield.
Anelka could’ve been as good as Henry, but left Arsenal in 1999 for Real Madrid.
Henry knew the shoes he had to fill, and he has now claimed that people don’t really remember how good his French compatriot was.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Henry said: “You come after this guy (Ian Wright), you come after Anelka. who had an outstanding season.
“What a player he was. People do sleep sometimes on how great Nicolas Anelka was.”
The real reason why Nicolas Anelka left Arsenal
Anelka played for a dozen clubs during his career, but it was at Arsenal that he made a name for himself.
The Frenchman was so good during his time under Arsene Wenger, and many people felt he would go and break all sorts of records as a Gunner.
But, Anelka left Arsenal in the summer of 1999, and nine years later, he revealed the reason behind his departure.
Sky Sports quoted him in November 2008, saying: “When I started the season, there was a poll because I had taken the place of Ian Wright.
“I thought the fans really wanted it to be me and were pleased with me. But, seeing the result in the papers and on TV hit me hard because I had done things for nothing.
“I thought ‘So that’s how it is. This is how you thank me. Okay, now you watch what is going to happen. I am going to play, score my goals and just when you are saying Anelka, Anelka that’s when I’m going to leave.’
“And that is exactly what I did because I was furious with them.”