ARSENAL LEGENDS: Henry pays tribute to Wenger

The Arsenal Legend has hailed his former boss and said he is praying that the north Londoners are crowned champions of England this year.

The former France international scored 226 goals in 369 appearances for Arsenal between 1999 and 2007, before returning for a two-month loan spell in 2012 from his current club, New York Red Bulls.

Henry won seven trophies in his time in north London, but the Gunners have failed to win any silverware since 2005.

However, Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League table after 21 games and Henry believes this could be the year for his former side.

"I still watch Arsenal a lot," he said at an event in Barcelona. "They have had a great start to the season and I hope they can keep it up. I would be really happy if they won the Premier League."

Henry also paid tribute to former boss Wenger, who signed him from Juventus in 1999.

"He changed the philosophy of the club," the 36-year-old said. "He won stuff as soon as he arrived and therefore he earned the trust of the fans and the respect of everyone."

The striker left Arsenal in 2007 to join Barcelona, where he was part of the treble-winning side of 2008-09 under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal's most successful manager, Arsene Wenger standing along side Thierry Henry.

(Stats are updated till 17th January 2014)

Appointed on: 1st October 1996

Games: 986

Won: 565

Drawn: 232

Lost: 189

Win %: 57.30

Tophies won:

FA Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04

FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05

FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004

Individual achievements:

• Premier League Manager of the Season: 1998, 2002, 2004 
• LMA Manager of the Year: 2001–02, 2003–04
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award: 2002, 2004
• Freedom of Islington: 2004
• FWA Tribute Award: 2005
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2006
• Premier League Manager of the Month: March 1998, April 1998, October 2000, April 2002, September 2002, August 2003, February 2004, August 2004, September 2007, December 2007, February 2011, February 2012, September 2013
• World Coach of the Decade in 2011.