Thierry Henry: 'Easier to play for Arsenal than Barcelona'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 May 2020

France legend Thierry Henry says that his role at Arsenal made it easier for him to play for the Gunners over representing Barcelona later in his career.

Thierry Henry has revealed that his status at Arsenal made it easier for him to represent the Gunners over playing for Barcelona.

While Henry enjoyed success with both clubs, the Frenchman is best known for his legendary career in North London, where he contributed 226 goals from 369 appearances in all competitions.

Speaking to Sergio Aguero via a video call with PUMA Football, Henry has paid credit to his former teammates for allowing him to have such an impact at the Premier League club.

The ex-forward said: "At Arsenal, I could go wherever I wanted. It was much easier for me at Arsenal because I had either [Dennis] Bergkamp or [Nwankwo] Kanu. They liked staying in the middle which allowed me to drop back, move on the right side, left side.

"I was at Arsenal, I never thought I was going to leave but I did. I went to Barcelona, a different type of game, a different type of style to relearn how to play the game because at Arsenal, Dennis was there, Kanu was there and I could move everywhere upfront, come in the middle, get the ball, go on the right and the left.

"Then suddenly you arrive at Barcelona and I had [Frank] Rijkaard asking me to stay on the left and then when Pep [Guardiola] arrived, Pep is an amazing coach first and foremost, but he's very demanding, very intense and it's almost like you play chess with him."

Between 2007 and 2010, Henry scored 49 goals from 121 outings for Barcelona, helping the Catalan side to two La Liga titles and the Champions League.