Arsenal return to European action next week when they travel to Porto for their first Champions League knockout game in seven years.
The Gunners are one of the favourites alongside Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but will have to deal with the competition as well as the Premier League title race.
They sit third in the table, two points behind Liverpool and level with City albeit having played a game more than the Citizens, and after their title charge took a bit of a wobble in December there were questions over whether they had enough fire power in their team.
Many have claimed that Mikel Arteta’s side won’t be able to win major honours until they sign a prolific striker, with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen among those linked with a big money move to the Emirates in the summer.
But Henry, Arsenal’s all-time top goal scorer, does not think this is the case at all, referring to their recent thrashing of West Ham to make his point.
‘There was a massive discussion about does Arsenal need a No.9. What they needed to do was put the ball in the back of the net and when Arsenal put the ball in the back of the net it’s 6-0,’ he told CBS.
‘In every game it could have been the same, in the [FA] cup against Liverpool they didn’t do it. They did it – with a little help from Liverpool – in the league.
‘When Arsenal are on point and put the ball in the back of the net, it doesn’t matter who plays. [Leandro] Trossard can score, Declan Rice has been scoring, Gabriel has been scoring, so it doesn’t really matter.
‘Yes, the front three weren’t scoring a lot but it was about putting the ball in the back of the net, and when we do we’re tough to beat.’
16 goals in their last four games have moved Arsenal’s goal tally right behind City and Liverpool’s, with Bukayo Saka’s brace against the Irons putting him into double figures for the season.
As for their Champions League hopes, Henry has faith in the Gunners but much will depend on who they’ll be drawn up against, adding: ‘It will be a tough game against Porto away. I do think we pass that test. We can beat them at home.
‘If we turn our opportunities into goals, we’re going to be a very difficult team to beat. For me, it wasn’t down to not having a nine scoring.
‘Having said that, the draw is going to be tough. Porto will be tough, and then if you go through, you can play Man City or Real Madrid…
‘How are you going to deal with that if you’re still competing in that league to win it. Those are the questions the team are going to have to answer.’
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