Thierry Henry has named sometime international colleague Nicolas
Anelka as his dream strike partner at Arsenal.
The two Parisians are close friends off the pitch but their paths
never crossed at Highbury as Henry arrived in the summer of 1999 to
replace his Real Madrid-bound compatriot.
Anelka set an early standard for Arsene Wenger's foreign
acquisitions but his decision to defect to the Bernabeu meant the
manager's focus was switched to turning then-Juventus winger Henry
into one of the globe's most feared strikers.
Gunners boss Wenger has previously stated he would have loved to
have used the two athletic strikers in tandem, but only the French
international team has been able to field both talents at the same
time.
When quizzed on which player he would most like to play with at
Emirates Stadium, Henry responded by choosing the player who
returned to The Premiership with Bolton over the summer.
"It would have been Nicolas," said Henry at a fans forum.
"I played with Wrighty which was fantastic but it would have been
great with Nicolas.
"We just missed each other at the club.
"He drifts out to the right , I drift to the left.
"Together I think we would have done well."
Henry also named Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp as his favourite
partner down the years, stating: "Bergkamp is miles ahead".
After the disappointment of midweek, when Henry had a late strike
controversially chalked off in the defeat to CSKA Moscow, Arsenal
turn their attentions to Sunday's Premiership game with Reading,
live on Sky Sports 1.
The Royals have made a mockery of their pre-season status as
relegation fodder, but Wenger is boasting a healthy squad ahead of
the trip to The Madejski Stadium - despite Swedish skipper Freddie
Ljungberg still suffering with a calf problem.
Gael Clichy has recently returned to the first team after a lengthy
absence and now Wenger has revealed that fellow Frenchman Mathieu
Flamini and Swiss stopper Philippe Senderos could also be in line
to make a comeback.
"We did not get any new injuries from Tuesday and Freddie Ljungberg
is not quite ready yet," Wenger told the club's official
website.
"We have no one else coming back.
"Philippe Senderos and Mathieu Flamini are available again because
they played in the Reserves in midweek. I don't know if I will
draft them in. I will decide that later."