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Heart and soul As Arsenal's new leader, Henry gunning for more titlesPosted: Tuesday August 13, 2002 3:27 AMLONDON (Reuters) -- Just when Tony Adams finally hung up his boots after a lifetime of service, Thierry Henry has stepped into the void to become the new "Mr Arsenal." As Adams bows out after 18 years as the heart and soul of the London club, Henry, whose 32 goals last season helped them to a Premier League and FA Cup double, is set to commit himself to Highbury for the rest of his career. If, as Arsene Wenger often claimed, Adams had a degree in defending, Henry undoubtedly has a double first in the striker's art. In three years the Frenchman has developed from a temperamental young buck into a class act -- on and off the field -- and the great news for his adoring Arsenal fans is that Henry seems genuinely to reciprocate their feelings. "It's about love at Arsenal and since I've been here they have given me everything, like love, honesty and belief," he said last week after scoring all three goals in a 3-1 friendly win over Germany's 1860 Munich. "I will give my all for the fans and club that I love. I can never walk away from these people. "I can't leave, I can't. I couldn't imagine life without Arsenal." Henry looks set to back up the words with deeds by signing a new five-year contract that will earn him around 40 million pounds ($61.2 million), according to media reports.
Love affairThe Frenchman, however, says the money is secondary to his happiness. "A lot of things are said about contracts but really it's all about having faith and love in your heart," he said. "You judge commitment in the way people play, not in the length of their contract." Arsenal are desperate to avoid a repeat of their last attempt to successfully defend the Double in the 1998/99 season -- when Manchester United won both competitions and added the Champions League for good measure. Henry, who arrived at Highbury in the aftermath of that handover of silverware, is determined that won't happen again. "Of course we want to win the championship again. If you want to be true champions, you have to win it again and again," he said. "The title is there to be defended and we are going to defend it with our lives. If we keep playing like we did last season, it's going to be a tough season for any team who wants to take the trophy off us. "We will see if people need to question our desire when the season begins ... but we are hungrier, more than ever, to be successful." Henry enjoyed a magnificent domestic season last time, topping the Premier League scoring charts with 24 and adding a further eight in the cups and Champions League.
Regular providerHis razor-sharp pace was a constant threat to every opponent and, as well as scoring the goals, he also developed into a regular provider, sliding in pinpoint crosses for the likes of Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg to sweep home. His form dipped over the last few months -- too late to damage Arsenal's trophy charge -- but nothing could have prepared him for the shock of France's first-round exit from the World Cup. Henry traveled to the finals as favorite for the Golden Boot in a team favoured to retain their world title but three scoreless games later, both dreams were shattered. Even worse, he was sent off for a bad challenge in France's final game against Uruguay and watched the last rites from the stand. It hurt, but Henry says he has put the pain behind him. "I can't afford to dwell on what happened at the World Cup," he said. "I can't come back and sulk because they are two different things. I didn't want to come back to Arsenal with my mind on the national team -- that would have driven me crazy." Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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