Thierry Henry believes that this week is an opportunity for Arsenal to make a statement, with a Champions League semi-final and their lead in the Premier League title race at stake.
Arsenal face perhaps the biggest week of their season so far, with a Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, and a trip away to Premier League title rivals on Sunday.
If things go well, the Gunners could potentially be looking at a second consecutive Champions League semi-final and a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
But if things go badly, Arsenal might be out of the Champions League with only a three-point lead in the league and City having a game in hand to close that to zero.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that former Gunner Thierry Henry therefore believes that this is an opportunity for the players to make a statement.
“I don’t know what Sporting are going to do tomorrow,” Henry told CBS Sports in their live broadcast on Tuesday. “But yes, it is very important for the Arsenal to be able to win the game and then make sure that they can prepare [for] the game we’re all waiting for. To see what time it is.
“Even before Bournemouth winning, I wasn’t focusing on that, I wanted that game (against City). If I was a player, I want to win at City. I want to make a statement.
“You want to make a statement. You have an opportunity to do that. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but that’s what I’m waiting for.”
The hope is that the players view this week in the same way, as an opportunity within their grasp. Two wins wouldn’t guarantee Arsenal a trophy at the end of the season, but it would certainly make at least one very likely.