Henry explains why he doesn’t like ‘new Thierry’ tag

Matt Stead

Thierry Henry has urged Kylian Mbappe to “be him” as opposed to attempting to live up to the tags he has been assigned.

Mbappe has emerged as a transfer target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.

The Monaco striker has been likened to Gunners great Henry, with his pace, finishing and even career path bearing similarities with the retired legend.

But Henry insists that Mbappe, who has scored 11 goals and assisted a further eight in 24 games in all competitions, should be his own player.

‘I’ve met Mbappe and he’s a nice lad with a good head on his shoulders,’ he wrote in his column in The Sun. ‘He is very respectful and quite quiet. But give him the ball and he talks and he isn’t very nice anymore!

‘He is determined and never gives up. He is the talk of the town and has so much talent. He has skills, goals, assists. He can do what he wants with the ball.

‘I know people have called him ‘the new Thierry Henry’ but I don’t like those tags. He needs to be him and just be the best he can be.’