Jamie Redknapp: I wish I could have played with Thierry Henry

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp has claimed Thierry Henry to be the best foreign player to grace the Premier League and says that he wished he could have played alongside the Frenchman.

Redknapp, now a pundit for Sky, wrote in his Daily Mail column that he labels Arsenal’s mercurial forward as the best foreign player England’s top-flight has seen since its inception in 1992.

Redknapp spent time at Spurs from 2002 to 2005 so saw, first-hand, what Henry could do at the peak of his powers at Arsenal.

“The most prolific forward on the list, the Frenchman was graceful and dazzling,” wrote Redknapp.

“He arrived in England as a lightweight wide player who had struggled in Italy after his move from Monaco. But Arsene Wenger knew what he was getting – a beautiful footballer with a cutting edge.

“He became Arsenal’s record goalscorer and among their greatest legends during his eight years at Arsenal before moving to Barcelona. Using the same criterion as the Suarez selection, if there was one player I wish I could have played with, it is Thierry,” he added.

Henry was the figurehead of the imperious Arsenal team from the early-2000s that swept trophies up at ease, even winning the Premier League in 2003/04 unbeaten in all 38 league matches.