Thierry Henry reckons “amazing” Robin van Persie is following in his footsteps to become an Arsenal legend.
He compared van Persie’s progression at the club to his own, from difficult beginnings to becoming the Gunners’ main man.
The New York-based French ace watches every Arsenal game he can and says his former team-mate – who has scored 30 goals in 31 Premier League games in 2011 – will get even better.
He believes only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can be compared to van Persie and reckons his goalscoring ratio is “ridiculous.”
“What can I say about Robin? I saw him come in here and at the very beginning he wasn’t the easiest guy to deal with, like I wasn’t I guess,” said Henry. “But it’s amazing to see how he has improved.
"That tells you how intelligent a player he is. I’m just in admiration. Thank God he is playing for us and doing well.
“It’s nice to see a player improve. What van Persie is doing now, in terms of, not just goals, but ratio of goals, apart from Ronaldo and Messi it is ridiculous.
“He is doing something amazing. That also tells you how important it is for him to not get injured.
“He has never had a chance to have a full season since he has been here – he was always out for two or three months. For the first time he can go on a roll now and you can see the difference.”
Henry was deeply moved by Arsenal creating a statue of him to recognise his legendary status at the club. But he was typically modest as he stressed the importance of his team-mates’ roles.
But he admitted it was hard to choose which other players should have a statue made of them and was proud at being chosen after playing in illustrious company. “It’s difficult to compare different eras,” he said. “I can only feel honoured and privileged that I was chosen.
“I want to insist how important it was for me to play with some great players. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to play there.
“When you look at the likes of the back four: Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole – I am going to name the whole squad – Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord, who was underrated at the time because he was an amazing player. Robert Pires as well.
“Without them I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did – we went through a season unbeaten. Without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.”
His progression from misfit at Juventus to Arsenal record goalscorer has made him a folk hero and, despite leaving for Barcelona and now playing for New York Red Bulls in the MLS, he insists he will always be a fan.
It was difficult for him to watch at the start of the season as Arsenal struggled but he is convinced they are back onto great things again now.
But Henry, 34, also ruled out ever returning to Arsenal to play – even on loan – and refused to think about one day managing the club with his former boss and mentor, Arsene Wenger, sat alongside.
“Every time I can I always watch Arsenal,” said Henry. “It was hard at the beginning of the season but now they are on the right track and they have to keep on going.
“But I’m in pain when Arsenal lose, I can’t take it well. I didn’t like it when I was a player and it’s worse now – at least when you’re a player you can do something about it. I always watch them.
“One day I might think about management, but when is he (Wenger) going to stop? The manager is right here.
“I just came back here to stay in shape. Also you know how much I love London – I have my daughter here and I am always here in the off season. It’s perfect for me to be around the club.”
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