Some may argue that Arsenal’s recent Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain was a defining moment, showcasing their strength on the European stage. However, club legend Thierry Henry is not fully convinced.
Despite Arsenal controlling much of the match and deserving their win, Henry remains hesitant to label the result as a true statement victory. He acknowledges the team’s solid performance but believes more needs to be done to prove their credentials.
Arsenal’s Champions League journey began with a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in Italy. In that match, goalkeeper David Raya delivered a remarkable double save from a penalty, helping the team secure a clean sheet.
Following their victory over PSG, Arsenal now finds itself in a strong position in Europe, with two clean sheets and their first Champions League win of the season. Everything appears to be falling into place for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are also seen as Premier League title contenders.
However, Arsenal’s tactical approach, particularly in away games, has sparked debate this season. There have been numerous discussions about how defensive the team appears when facing major challenges on the road.
One example is their decision to play with ten men against Manchester City in a previous match. Critics have pointed out that Arsenal sometimes takes a cautious approach when up against tougher opposition, which has led to questions about their strategy.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta can point to his team’s impressive defensive record from last season as evidence of their effectiveness.
Arsenal conceded only 29 goals in the Premier League, the fewest in the division, and this season they are once again on track to have one of the strongest defenses in the league. Arteta’s defensive structure has been key to Arsenal’s success, both domestically and in Europe.
Despite this, Henry believes Arsenal needs to deliver an even more convincing performance to truly make a statement in the Champions League.
He has highlighted Arsenal’s upcoming away match against Inter Milan at the San Siro as a pivotal test. Henry stated that if Arsenal can secure a commanding victory against Inter, similar to their win over PSG, he will feel confident enough to become more vocal as a passionate Arsenal fan in Europe.
For him, that type of result would signify that Arsenal is truly a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League.
After their match against Inter, Arsenal will face another tough away trip to Portugal, where they will take on Sporting Lisbon. These two games are seen as crucial moments in Arsenal’s group stage campaign, and how they perform could define their European journey this season.
Speaking on CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League on Paramount+, Henry explained that while the win over PSG was positive, it is not yet enough to be considered a significant achievement.
Until Arsenal can deliver a dominant performance against a team like Inter on the road, Henry remains cautious in his assessment of their European prospects. He believes that only then can Arsenal’s victory be considered a true statement win in the Champions League.
For Henry, the upcoming matches will be critical in determining whether Arsenal has what it takes to compete with Europe’s elite.
While the PSG victory is a step in the right direction, he is waiting for Arsenal to prove themselves further before declaring them serious contenders in the competition.
