Henry baffled by Owen style

Last updated : 10 June 2004 By Chris Maxwell
The mercurial Arsenal striker, reacting to Owen's belief that the exuberent Frenchman had taken forward play to a new level, admitted that he has great admiration for the painstaking and predatory style of the Liverpool striker.

Henry said: "I would like to say 'thank you'. I admire what Michael Owen can do because I can't do it myself. I can't stay in the box or stay around waiting for someone to deliver.

"I just can't. I would die. I can't, I can't. I have to move. Even if I have to drop and get the ball off our goalkeeper I will do it because I need to touch the ball.

"That's me. I need to move, run and be involved in everything. If people think that's another level that's fine. I don't see it that way.

"I admire the likes of Michael Owen, David Trezeguet, 'Pippo' Inzaghi and Pauleta. It doesn't matter to them if they don't touch the ball a lot.

"If I score but I don't play well, I am not happy. It is not enough for me just to score. Okay, I enjoy scoring, but if I don't have any pleasure in the game I won't be that proud of simply scoring."