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Arsenal great Thierry Henry has dismissed suggestions that the club will collapse during the second half of the season , and has faith in manager Arsene Wenger and £42.5m record signing Mesut Ozil to lead the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 10 years.
Henry, who now plays in the MLS in America for New York Red Bulls, was an integral part of that 'Invincibles' side in 2003/04, which went unbeaten throughout the whole season. The Frenchman scored a record 228 goals in all competitions in two spells for the club.
"I can say right now that everybody is expecting Arsenal to collapse, just as they were expecting it earlier in the season. But they didn't," Henry told goal.com at a Puma launch event in Barcelona . "They are still somehow keeping up the pace in the Premier League, and every time they have been in a situation where they have to answer back to Man City and Chelsea, they have done it.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to the Gunners' current side either, he has been training with the squad in the MLS off-season while he builds up his fitness, and has particularly been impressed with Ozil, who joined from Real Madrid in the last transfer window.
"With his calmness, his quality on the ball, his vision, he is a great player and can give an assist at any moment," Henry said of Ozil.
"He also has the quality and capacity to score goals at any moment, so it’s always great to have a player like that around in the dressing room on a daily basis, and at the weekend at the game."
Gallery: How badly does each Premier League team need to buy this month? Show all 20 1 /20Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Manchester United Main goal: Champions’ League qualification What they need to secure it: A new midfield and replacement for Patrice Evra. Juan Mata will add creativity and David Moyes is also targeting Yohan Cabaye, Juventus’s Arturo Vidal and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Patrick Herrmann, with a longer-term eye on Ilkay Gündogan of Borussia Dortmund. Enquiries have been made for Luke Shaw of Southampton; Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis is another option. How badly do they need to buy: 10/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Cardiff City Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Premier League quality, given how conspicuously they’ve been sliding. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been busy but it feels as if he needs much more than three former Molde players in Mats Moller Daehli, Jo Inge Berget and Magnus Wolff Eikrem. Stoke’s Kenwyne Jones is heading their way, with Cardiff also set to get Wilfried Zaha and Fabio da Silva on loan from Manchester United. How badly do they need to buy: 9/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week West Ham Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: A forward to back up Andy Carroll – Roma’s Marco Borriello was yesterday signed on loan until the end of the season, along with Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino. They need more. How badly do they need to buy: 9/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Fulham Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Defensive durability and youthful zest, given an ageing side is leaking goals. Leicester defender Liam Moore, Burnley striker Danny Ings and Porto’s Steven Defour are targets. A £4m bid has gone in for West Ham’s Ravel Morrison. How badly do they need to buy: 8/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Arsenal Main goal: The title What they need to secure it: A striker. Olivier Giroud needs back-up. Juventus’s Marko Vucinic and Rodrigo of Benfica are possibles, with contact made for Schalke’s Julian Draxler. How badly do they need to buy: 8/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Liverpool Main goal: Champions’ League qualification What they need to secure it: Luis Suarez to stay fit, and defensive protection to mitigate against any blip. With Lucas Leiva injured, it’s no surprise Liverpool have looked at Milan’s Nigel de Jong and Rubin Kazan’s Yann M’Vila. How badly do they need to buy: 7/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Crystal Palace Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: At least one Premier League-level centre-back, a striker and a midfielder. Tony Pulis has initiated moves for Will Buckley of Brighton and Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. How badly do they need to buy: 7/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Aston Villa Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Experience at centre-half and midfield, and more goals. Paul Lambert has been frustrated in his pursuit of Wes Hoolahan, but is trailing Porto’s Steven Defour and Kyle Naughton of Tottenham Hotspur. How badly do they need to buy: 7/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week West Brom Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: A striker, after the sale of Shane Long and likely suspension of Nicolas Anelka. The club’s recruitment department are currently surveying options. How badly do they need to buy: 6/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Swansea City Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Greater depth, as they are still in the Europa League. Currently in talks for Bolton’s David Ngog. How badly do they need to buy: 6/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Norwich City Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Goals, although Norwich spent a lot on three forwards in the summer. As such, Chris Hughton has attempted to solve issues further back. He hopes to add Danny Guthrie to on-loan Jonas Gutierrez. How badly do they need to buy: 6/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Stoke City Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Mark Hughes has admitted he wants to make a big signing, but looks to have been frustrated with Lee Cattermole. Monaco’s Emmanuel Riviere an option up front. How badly do they need to buy: 5/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Chelsea Main goal: The title What they need to secure it: Most would say a striker, but Jose Mourinho has insisted the club’s January business is finished with Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah. How badly do they need to buy: 5/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Newcastle United Main goal: Top-half finish What they need to secure it: It depends on the future of Yohan Cabaye. Marseille’s Remy Cabella is a potential replacement while Borussia Monchengladbach’s Luuk De Jong could yet bolster the forward line. How badly do they need to buy: 4/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Hull City Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Attacking impetus but Steve Bruce has rectified that with Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long. Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari may yet arrive. How badly do they need to buy: 4/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Everton Main goal: Champions’ League What they need to secure it: With Monaco’s Lacina Traore in on loan and Aiden McGeady joining from Spartak Moscow, Roberto Martinez seems to have sufficiently bolstered his squad. How badly do they need to buy: 4/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Tottenham Main goal: Champions’ League What they need to secure it: Clear direction. Due to the managerial change, Spurs’ situation is hard to call, but it seems Tim Sherwood will make do with the squad he has, despite reports players will be sold. How badly do they need to buy: 4/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Sunderland Main goal: Survival What they need to secure it: Cohesion. Gus Poyet has done his main business by bringing in Marcos Alonso and Santiago Vergini on loan. How badly do they need to buy: 4/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Southampton Main goal: Top half What they need to secure it: Stability. Southampton have had to deal with the departure of Nicola Cortese, but they will temporarily keep both Mauricio Pochettino and the squad together. How badly do they need to buy: 3/10
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Premier League transfer wants and needs: The big buys for this week Manchester City Main goal: The title What they need to secure it: The only weakness in personnel at the Etihad Stadium seems to be at centre-half, but the manager Manuel Pellegrini seems otherwise content. How badly do they need to buy: 2/10
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