A Day With: Arsenal and France striking legend Thierry Henry

Inventive and at one stage with the Gunners, invincible, he was an example to impressionable young fans everywhere that football should be about joy. He loved playing, dribbling, running and scoring goals – he was one of the best at it, too.

Now, the Frenchman has made a successful transition into television as a pundit with Sky Sports and is taking his badges while coaching youth teams at Arsenal.

Speaking at an event held at Sun & Sand Sports shop in Dubai, Henry, a brand ambassador for Puma’s #LegendChallenge, talked about Arsenal, Pep Guardiola and his dream to manage one day.

You’ve been coaching with Arsenal so what do you make of the talent here in the UAE?

The talent is there and a lot of footballers have it but now it’s a case of what they do with that. Do they just want to joke around because football is much more than just stepovers, nutmegs and beautiful goals.

If you’re at the top of the game earning the money, then you have license to do what you want but at this level you have to be as professional as possible. There is a certain skill here but are they committed? Do they have the right desire? Do they have the desire to go and test themselves in Europe, too? Everything is possible but you have to come out of your comfort zone.

What is your advice to best prepare for matches?

Personally, I always prepared the same. It didn’t matter if we were playing against a top team or a team at the bottom of the league.

My way of approaching the game was always the same and it was to have the mind set to help my team win the game. I needed to be a warrior for my team because when I used to pass the line I was completely different on the pitch.

Other than that I was pretty relaxed and I just listened to my music. I’m not really a superstitious guy so that was never a big part of my preparation.

What is the best goal you scored?

It’s kind of weird because when I started my career you tend to think of yourself. Later in life you realise that’s not the case. At the beginning I always remembered goals and remembered goals that were making my team win games.

But there is one that will always stand out for me and I know some guys will tell me it wasn’t important. For me, it was the first time I scored a goal at a club level as a fan.

So the goal that I scored when I came back for Arsenal against Leeds United is my favourite. I choose this one, and I’m going to be honest, when I scored this one I thought only about myself. It was too much to handle.

Who was the best player you played against and who was the best player you played alongside?

My mentality was to always analyse what I haven’t done well. I used to block other players out and just think about me. If I was doing the right things then it would always be difficult to play against me so I never have had a tougher opponent than myself. I wasn’t focusing on others. So my toughest opponent was myself.

The best player I ever played with was Dennis Bergkamp. Why? He was always doing what the game needed him to do. He was always anticipating the game and changing himself to that. It helps I was playing with him for seven years, too.

The Euro’s are being held in France next year. Can this current French side go someway to replicating the side that won a home World Cup in 1998?

It’s not easy when it’s a home tournament even though we did it in 1998. Yes the expectations are going to be big but I think the team is good enough to win.

BREAKING: UEFA reaffirm Euro 2016 will take place in France and draw will be held in Paris on December 12 as scheduled. #SSNHQ

— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) November 16, 2015

You talk about Anthony Martial and there’s still Karim Benzema there, Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba there too. The only thing I would say is that handling the pressure of being at home. We all know the quality is there so I back them to perform and I’m not just saying that because I’m French.

Your former team-mate Patrick Vieira has entered the realms of senior management by taking over New York City FC. How do you think he will fare?

I think it’s about time he was given his chance because he has done so well at youth level. He’s a good guy and a great competitor, from what I hear they loved him at Manchester City as a coach. I think he will enjoy it in New York and hopefully he can change their fortunes after the massive disappointment of last season.

You’re both Arsenal legends, is there any chance of you two working together at the club in the future?
I honestly don’t know. We’re no longer team-mates so we’ve gone down separate paths but I wish him all the best.

He went to the wrong team. I had hoped he would support my old club Red Bulls and not NYCFC. But at the end of the day, I hope he has a good time there, a good career, and then comes back to Europe with a lot of experience.

Your former manager at Barcelona Pep Guardiola has been linked with a move to the Premier League, is that a move you could see him making?

He is a guy that wants to win it all everywhere so obviously you would think he will go there at one point and I think he would be a fantastic addition to the league, too.

Arsene Wenger talked recently about retirement, how much longer can he go on for?

He’s been in the game for a long time now but it’s difficult to stop something that you love.

Can Arsenal win the league this year with their current attacking talent?

(Olivier) Giroud is a great striker, but I thought Arsenal was missing another type of striker. There cannot only be one type of striker, there has to be two or three. And then Theo (Walcott) came along this year and he’s been doing well, so suddenly they are sharing the goals.

That’s what makes a team and I think they are more equipped like that and more balanced like that to win the league, so we will see if it’s possible and doable, but I would like to say yes, because they have been showing they can compete and perform in the league.