Thierry Henry said he “believes” in this current Arsenal team after years in the competitive nature.
The Gunners return to the European stage on Thursday and the club legend is confident Mikel Arteta’s new side can challenge for trophies this season and beyond.
The loss to Manchester United may have halted their 100 per cent start to the new five-game Premier League season, but that doesn’t seem to have dampened the mood in the red half of north London.
Arsenal are still top of the table and, after a season away from European football, they will enjoy their first match on Thursday night as they take on FC Zurich in Switzerland – with live commentary on talkSPORT.
Although it’s not in the Champions League as the fans, players and manager would have liked – having missed rivals Tottenham by just two points last season – the Europa League still offers this Arsenal side in full growth an excellent opportunity to lift silverware. .
It would also give them a taste of that winning feeling, and one man who was used to that during his famous career in a Gunners shirt is Henry.
After years of doubt, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer has now insisted he is fully on board and has faith in the process under Arteta, following a brilliant summer transfer window that saw the manager bring a number of missing pieces to the puzzle.
“The team is different,” Henry told CBS.
“When you get the likes of Gabriel Jesus, you get William Saliba back, it can get you playing higher, and Martin Odegaard as he is right now and still Bukayo Saka.
“What it is with Jesus is that he knows how to win, he won, he brings that to the team and you can see that.
“Having said that, the way we beat Fulham and the way we beat Aston Villa, we were a bit emotional at times on the bench and in the stadium there were a lot of ups and downs.
“And what happened this weekend – I expected a lot from the team but it was always going to be tough against Manchester United, who are now much better than what happened to them at the start of the season.
“I expected us to get a win, it didn’t happen, Man United deserved it.
“But I believe. I haven’t believed like this for a very long time that we could do something.
However, Henry has reservations about returning to European football after a year’s absence.
There is, of course, an added incentive to lift the trophy for Arsenal, as it also guarantees you a Champions League place next season – the ultimate goal for Arteta’s side as they search again to return to the top four of the Premier League.
But while the Frenchman is happy with the form of his first-choice XI, he doubts the strength of his wider squad as he begins to balance the competition again in midweek.
Then there’s the World Cup, with Henry saying that will present a whole new challenge for all teams this winter.
He added: “I worry about the Europa League. Why? Because of the depth of the team.
“The starting XI is quite good, but when you go to these games for a long season it can be a bit too much.
“I’m also worried about the World Cup, as a coach there will be a worry about how these players will come back from a World Cup staged in the middle of the season.
“Are you doing a pre-season? What are you going to do with the players who stayed? How are they going to come back mentally? Physically?
” It is going to be difficult.
“But at Arsenal now I can see a team and a unit, and I like that.”
Tune in to talkSPORT for LIVE commentary FC Zurich v Arsenal in the Europa League, Thursday 10 September, kick off: 5.45pm
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