LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Despite leading the Premier League standings, Thierry Henry says he is not convinced that Arsenal have confirmed themselves a top-four berth.
Arsenal are currently the PL leaders with 13-point cushion on fifth place Newcastle and Henry still believes that top four is not guaranteed for his former side.
The Gunners suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in a crucial top-of-the-table clash on 15 February, but rallied to secure a comeback win against Aston Villa to move back to the top of the Premier League standings at the weekend that allowed Mikel Arteta’s side to open up a slender two-point gap with a game in hand.
But Henry is taking nothing for granted in his statements.
“We’re not there. I know people will tell me ‘come on Thierry’. No, no, no. When and if we qualify, then we can talk about it,” the Arsenal legend said on CBS Sports’ House of Champions podcast.
However, Henry hailed Arteta for reconnecting with the Arsenal fanbase, and feels the fighting DNA that had gone missing for a few years has been rediscovered.
He added: “You could see there was a little disconnection with the fans. All the fans wanted is to relate to the team, a team that can compete. They didn’t boo the team on Thursday, [defeats] happen, fans can understand that.
“What fans don’t understand is when they don’t see a team that fights. They don’t see themselves in a team that doesn’t represent the community. Edu, the board, Mikel Arteta, whoever, however you want to call it, brought that back. Are we going to win the league? I don’t know.
“But it looks like the Arsenal I know. At the end of the day, you can’t fool fans, they scream, they’re there and they have that attitude because they see something, that’s why they’re loud. It’s a different emotion”.
The Gunners will be facing Leicester City next in the Premier League on Saturday at the King Power Stadium to consolidate their lead at the summit of the EPL.