According to a report by Football London on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Arsenal have had several outstanding players throughout their history, including Mesut Ozil, Dennis Bergkamp and current forward Bukayo Saka. However, Thierry Henry remains one of the strongest contenders for the title of the greatest player to have represented the club.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has now paid another tribute to the French legend, naming him among the best left-wingers in football history during a discussion about the greatest players to have featured in that position.

Kroos initially left Henry out of his selection but later corrected his decision, placing the Arsenal icon joint-second alongside Ronaldinho, while Cristiano Ronaldo took the top spot in his all-time ranking.

Explaining his choice, Kroos said: “At Arsenal, he often started from the left, and that was brilliant. But he would 1,000 per cent be a striker for me,” he later explained further.

The German also acknowledged that Henry deserved special recognition for his remarkable achievements in north London, adding: “I would actually put him joint-second with Ronaldinho.” Kroos also joked that he owed an apology for initially overlooking the former Arsenal captain.

He recalled Henry's memorable appearance in Arsenal's famous burgundy shirt with the gold O2 sponsor, describing him as a world-class footballer who deserves a place among the greatest players in the history of the game.

Henry's ranking among left-wingers remains a subject of debate because he regularly moved infield from the left, even though Arsenal mainly used him as their central striker during his most successful years under Arsene Wenger.

During that period, the popular 4-4-2 formation was widely used, with Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg operating in wider positions while Henry led the attack and created opportunities for his teammates.

His role changed after joining Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, where he played from the left in a 4-3-3 formation. Although that position could suit him in modern football, his most successful spell at Arsenal came primarily as a centre-forward.