Thiery Henry Statue

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Thierry Henry telah mengatakan tahap kesayangan beliau untuk Arsenal dalam ucapan emosi pada pelancaran patung beliau di Stadium Emirates.

"I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have a statue like this in front of the stadium of the team I love and support,"

"Once a Gooner, always a Gooner."

Henry adalah salah satu daripada tiga patung yang diumumkan untuk menyambut ulang tahun ke-125 kelab.

"The way the statue is gives the perfect example of the love I have for the club - me kneeling facing Emirates Stadium and Highbury behind is amazing,"

"I also have to thank the fans, you have always been special, and I always try to give my best. I know at times it was not enough, but I always give it all out there on the field for you guys and the club."

"I know some of the press used to kill me for not showing emotion - well, there you go, I am showing emotion for the club I love."

"Whatever I do, I do it with my heart, that is the way I am."

Henry juga memberi penghormatan kepada bekas pengurusnya, Arsene Wenger, yang telah membawa beliau ke kelab dari Itali iaitu Juventus pada tahun 1999 dengan harga £ 11m.

Arsene Wenger:

"He is a player who had everything you dream of as a manager - physical potential, a technical level, super intelligence and, what people also forget for many top-level athletes, he was dedicated to his job, with a very serious life,"

"He is simply a model [professional] who won everything you can in our world -Thierry, you were really special."

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Thierry Henry mengakui beliau tidak akan mempunyai skala setinggian itu tanpa rakan-rakan sepasukan Arsenal dahulu.

“I want to insist how important 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], David [Seaman], Lauren who came after, [Sol] Campbell, [Ashley] Cole - I am going to name the whole squad - Patrick [Vieira], Sylvain [Wiltord] too, 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.

“I wanted to say that again - without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.”

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pictures : getty images & arsenal.com

info : bbc sport & arsenal.com