Thierry Henry highlights Arsenal weakness ahead of Champions League game vs Sporting

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal could face trouble in their Champions League quarter-final if Sporting CP use similar tactics to Bournemouth.

Arsenal have a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday night following their win in Lisbon last week.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side head into the game at the Emirates Stadium off the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League, which has cut their advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table to six points.

Arsenal delivered an unconvincing performance in the loss at home to Bournemouth as they struggled to create clear-cut chances in attack and failed to beat the press from Andoni Iraola’s players in their own half.

If they eliminate Sporting on Wednesday night, Arsenal will play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and Henry feels a positive result can help the team ‘make a statement’ in their crucial Premier League game against Manchester City this Sunday.

‘If you’re Sporting, if you see the way Man City played Arsenal and the way Bournemouth played Arsenal at the weekend, the way they put pressure in that 4-2-4 early doors, Arsenal didn’t have an answer on how to step out from that,’ Henry told CBS Sports.

‘I don’t know what Sporting are going to do, but yes, it is very important for Arsenal to win the game and make sure they can prepare for the game we are all waiting for, what time it is.

‘Because for a very long time, I wasn’t even focusing on Bournemouth, even before Bournemouth winning I wasn’t focusing on that, I wanted that game, if I was a player, I want to win at statement, I want to make a statement.

‘I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but that’s what I’m waiting for.’

Asked if he prefers Arsenal to face Atletico Madrid after they knocked out Barcelona, Henry replied: ‘We will see. We need to beat Sporting.

‘They [Atletico] can celebrate, we’re not there yet.’

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