Henry looking for big finsh

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.

Arsenal capitalise

Arsenal strengthened their top-four hopes with an impressive 2-1 victory at Sunderland as the sides around them faltered.

It was a perfect weekend for Arsene Wenger's men after Chelsea, Newcastle United and Liverpool all lost. Arsenal leapfrogged Chelsea and Newcastle to take pole position in the race for fourth spot.

The Gunners travelled to a Sunderland side unbeaten at home under Martin O'Neill and looked to be heading for defeat when James McClean gave the hosts a second-half lead. People who bet on Premier League games may have been expecting a shock.

Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal back on level terms five minutes later, before Thierry Henry signed off with an injury-time winner. The Sunderland game was Henry's last in the Premier League before returning to New York Bulls.

Chelsea were without a win in four before their clash against Everton at Goodison Park and found themselves behind when Steven Pienaar fired into the roof of the net after five minutes. Denis Stracqualursi sealed the win in the second half to dent Chelsea's Champions League hopes.

Chelsea's defeat opened the door to Newcastle but they were taken apart by a rampant Spurs side at White Hart Lane. Fans of Premier League betting predictions should remember this.

Goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Niko Kranjcar and a Louis Saha double gave Spurs an unassailable 4-0 half-time lead. Emmanuel Adebayor capped off a fine individual performance with a fifth after the break to leave Newcastle stunned.

Liverpool started the weekend the lowest placed of the four sides and that is where they finished it after a Saturday lunchtime defeat at Old Trafford.

In a game again dominated by Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney was the hero for Manchester United with a precious double. Suarez grabbed a late consolation for Liverpool.

It has been another tough season for Arsenal, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.