THIERRY HENRY would invite Danny Welbeck round his house to watch videos of games when the Brighton striker was at Arsenal.
The Seagulls frontman spent five years at the Gunners between 2014 and 2019 and revealed the French legend went above and beyond to help the 30-year-old out.
Welbeck’s Seagulls welcome his old side to the Amex on Saturday with the home side looking to go seven points clear of Mikel Arteta’s men with a win.
And the former Manchester United forward heaped praise on Henry, 44, when asked who his role models were in line with Black History Month.
Asked about his relationship with the Premier League icon, the boyhood Red Devils supporter said: “While I was a Man Utd fan, watching Thierry Henry rip it up on TV was just amazing.
“When I was at Arsenal, I got to meet him quite a few times and had the privilege of being able to speak to him about the game.
“He’s such a good guy that he was always there to speak to for advice – he’d even invite you round to his house to watch videos of games.
“He was always there for me when I was at Arsenal and even after I’d left as well.
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“What a brilliant role model for a young black kid like me growing up and also when I’d made my own way in the game.”
Henry left his second spell as an Arsenal player in 2012 but was – and continues to be – a regular visitor to the Emirates.
The North Londoners go into Saturday’s game on the back of a superb win against bitter rivals Tottenham last weekend.
Arteta makes just one enforced change with injured Granit Xhaka replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Ben White also plays against his old side for the first time since his £50million summer switch from the Seagulls.
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And Aaron Ramsdale continues in goal in place of Bernd Leno who claimed his boss gave him ‘no clear reason’ why he has been dropped and replaced by the Englishman.
But Arteta has hit back in the build up to Saturday’s game and said: “I had a very clear conversation with him 48 hours before I was going to make the decision.
“Obviously any conversation I have with him is completely private and I’m not going to speak with any media about it.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
