Thierry Henry. The greatest player in Premier League history?
It’s quite possible.
The Arsenal legend was a tour de force during his career with the Gunners, leaving defenders with nightmares about his speed and finishing skills.
Among those delighted by Henry’s move to Barcelona in 2007 was former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who experienced many difficult matches against the Frenchman.
Carragher, who regards Henry as the Premier League’s greatest-ever player, told the striker on his The Greatest Game podcast: “You’re the only player I ever played against who I was worried about playing against before the match. You got into my head.”
Henry had it all
It was his move to Spain that allowed Henry to finally become a Champions League winner, but England certainly witnessed the best of him.
He scored 228 goals in 377 appearances across two spells with Arsenal.
There’s a reason a statue of the former No.14 was erected outside the Emirates Stadium.
Henry was simply unplayable on his day and he’s among the finest entertainers to ever grace a football pitch.
His pace was electrifying, but many players have speed. Henry, though, had the balance and control to use his quickness to devastating effect.
Then there’s the finishing and the imagination. Few could make something out of nothing like Henry could.
12 times Henry ‘shocked the world’
Back in 2019, a video showcasing 12 times the striker ‘shocked the world’ was posted on YouTube and it made for delightful viewing.
Six minutes of Henry magic. What more could you want?
The video includes Henry’s sensational solo goal against Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2002, as well as his backheel goal against Charlton two years later.
Also included is his iconic goal at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2006. Accompanied by Peter Drury’s commentary, it’s a brilliant throwback.
‘Most underrated player in history’
The comments section is awash with praise for Henry.
“I’ve never seen anything even close to him since…the swagger, the confidence, the aura – top 5 all time,” one fan wrote.
Another opined: “Most underrated player in the history of the game. He’s top 10 all time.”
Meanwhile, a Liverpool fan echoed Carragher’s sentiments by expressing the fear he felt before his team faced Arsenal.
“As a Liverpool fan he’s the only player I’ve ever feared going into a game. At one point (2002 to 2004) he was unplayable,” they wrote.
The one honour that eluded Henry was the Ballon d’Or – a travesty, according to many – but his breathtaking ability and extensive catalogue of special moments guarantees his status as an all-time great.
