Arsenal boss Wenger: Henry would've succeeded without me

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has played down his influence on Thierry Henry's successful career.

The on-loan New York Red Bulls striker is set to feature for the last time in Wednesday’s Champions League clash at AC Milan and Wenger is keen for a final swan song from the Club legend.

“He would have done it without me,” the Frenchman told arsenal.com. “I think that great players have one great characteristic - they will always surprise you with how far they can go. The motivation inside them is very big and they never have enough.

“Everybody is different. Let's say with Thierry that I made him start in Monaco when he was 17.

“Then I brought him to Arsenal, then he went to Barcelona and then I brought him back to Arsenal so it is a little bit a three-times story, three chapters in the book.

“I think the history we have had together is special because you do not [usually] meet the same player three times.

“For me, first I hope it will be a positive emotion [on Wednesday]. But what is important is that we focus on the night because it is a massive game for us. Let's hope we have positive emotions there.”