Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has stirred the pot ahead of next weekend's highly anticipated north London derby, aiming a characteristic dig at rivals Tottenham while making a bold claim about the Premier League title race.
Henry's Confident Dig at Spurs Territory
The Gunners legend found himself on unfamiliar ground over the weekend, attending the Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. When questioned by DAZN about being in what he considers enemy territory, Henry didn't miss the opportunity for a playful jab. "Weird. I never came to the new stadium, I used to come to the old one and win a lot, but it's nice," he remarked, referencing his successful playing days against Spurs at their former White Hart Lane home.
Previewing the Emirates Showdown
Turning his attention to the upcoming derby on November 23 at the Emirates Stadium, Henry acknowledged the challenge ahead while speaking to Sky Sports. Arsenal currently sit at the Premier League summit, but Henry pointed out an impressive statistic: "We (Arsenal) are doing okay – but Spurs haven't lost away from home yet. So it's going to be an interesting one. I will be there."
The match follows the November international break, with both teams facing significant team news. Tottenham, fifth in the table, hope to welcome back Mohammed Kudus but may be without Pape Matar Sarr after he picked up a knock on international duty. Meanwhile, Arsenal have their own fitness concerns, with Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all 'pushing to be fit'. Defender Gabriel Magalhaes is unlikely to feature after suffering an injury while playing for Brazil against Senegal.
Henry's Premier League Title Prediction
Despite Arsenal's recent 2-2 draw with promoted side Sunderland, Henry firmly believes this could finally be their year. "As a fan, I'm going to have to go with Arsenal," he stated. "I do think we look solid. A bit less against Sunderland the other day, but it's time for us. Hopefully, it can happen."
He pinpointed the team's defensive resilience as the key difference this season, highlighting the collective unit's efforts. "It's the way the team defends. If you don't defend well as a unit, you are going to be exposed and concede goals," Henry explained. "Unfortunately for us, we conceded two [against Sunderland] – it didn't happen for a while. But everyone believes this can be the year."
Henry concluded with a hopeful message for manager Mikel Arteta, the team, and the fans, expressing his desire to see the club win their first top-flight title since 2004.
