Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is backing club legend Thierry Henry to leave on a high as his loan spell comes to an end against AC Milan.
The New York Red Bulls star will return to America following Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 clash at the San Siro.
Wenger is backing Henry to make the difference again after two late winners during his second spell at the club.
"He can do it again. He will be highly motivated because he started his international career in Italy," Wenger said.
The 34-year-old Frenchman left his homeland for Juventus in 1999 but didn’t have the best of times in Italy. A move to London brought Henry’s career to life.
After hitting a club record 226 goals, Henry spent some time at Barcelona before moving across the Atlantic. He returned "home" in January on a two-month loan deal, a deal which was cut short by the MLS outfit.
Henry has fond memories of the San Siro. He scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Inter Milan on his last visit there so romantic punters who want to bet on the Champions League may want to back him to do so again.
Arsenal have a good recent record in Italy but are not the favourites in the football betting given Milan’s good form on their own turf this season, but Wenger is urging caution ahead of the tie against the Serie A leaders.
"It is a game for me that is a real 50-50. It is very important to not let them get on top of us, and to start strong will be very important for us," Wenger added.
Conversely, AC Milan have come unstuck against English opposition at this stage three times in the last four seasons and fell to defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last year. Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is out to avoid a repeat this time around.
"We need to have a game of great intensity, and we can't give them chances to counterattack because that is their strength," he said.
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