{"id":8413,"date":"2026-05-06T01:48:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=8413"},"modified":"2026-05-06T01:48:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:48:04","slug":"thierry-henry-reveals-private-conversation-with-arsenal-star-before-atletico-madrid-win-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=8413","title":{"rendered":"Thierry Henry reveals private conversation with Arsenal star before Atletico Madrid win | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28249984\" alt=\"Manchester City v RB Leipzig: Round of 16 Second Leg - UEFA Champions League\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thierry Henry praised Bukayo Saka\u2019s efforts to battle back from injury after his goal helped fire Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>Saka has had his minutes carefully managed over the past week after returning from an Achilles injury, which ruled him out for the previous five matches.<\/p>\n<p>The Arsenal winger was devastating against Fulham on the weekend when back in the starting lineup, and produced the goods again on Tuesday night against Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n<p>Saka made way just before the hour mark, having scored before half-time, with the Gunners holding on to secure a 2-1 aggregate win and place in the final later this month.<\/p>\n<p>And Henry was quick to praise Saka post-match, revealing that the winger has spoken about his determination to get back to full fitness when the pair spoke over the last week.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on CBS, Henry said: \u2018I would love to see if we can speak to Bukayo because I want him to explain to people that being a footballer is not so much always about the glamorous time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He\u2019s been questioned all season. Can he be the guy? Is he not the guy? Is he the star boy? Is he not the star boy? Is he better than him or not better than him? Today he had to play with barely training. I know he\u2019s suffering with his Achilles tendon. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274697517.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250267\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Semi Final Second Leg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018He came back, I spoke to him and he came back and was like: \u2018I\u2019ve got to be on the pitch. I\u2019ve got to be on the pitch against Fulham. I have to be. It\u2019s do or die\u2019. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018So you have to give those guys a lot of credit. Sometimes we take it for granted. We all played through injuries. We all played with moments where you\u2019re not 100 per cent and he had to do it, deliver it for Arsenal.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Henry was also keen to praise the performance of Viktor Gyokeres, who missed his golden opportunity in the second half but otherwise ran Atletico\u2019s defence ragged at the Emirates.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274694927.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250265\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Semi Final Second Leg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Henry was full of praise for Viktor Gyokeres (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018If I take the example of Gyokeres, the jury was out on him,\u2019 he added. \u2018It\u2019s not a bad thing. Embrace it. Try to prove people wrong. Tonight he did. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Not only tonight, in the last month, I will give him his credit. He\u2019s running, he looks solid and a bit more like a number nine that you can be scared of. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018What I like also is the way they look for him early \u2013 play to the strength of the guy because if not, I\u2019m going to see his weaknesses instead of seeing his strong points. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Now, because of the way they utilise him, I can see what he\u2019s good at and what he\u2019s not good at. It\u2019s a difference. The guy feels more comfortable to make the run where he\u2019s going to excel and not going to see his weakness.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>A jubilant Mikel Arteta was equally impressed with the performances of Gyokeres in the second leg, telling Amazon Prime: \u2018He [Gyokeres] was immense. You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he has the ball, his work rate and what he\u2019s giving the team is just incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>On Saka\u2019s winning goal, the Spanish coach added: \u2018It had to be someone very special and certainly he is very special with me and the boys and everyone attached with this club. If it had to be someone scoring that goal, it probably had to be him.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><br \/>\n<strong>Facebook,\u00a0<\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Metro_Sport\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Arsene Wenger responds to Arsenal celebrations after Atletico Madrid win<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Declan Rice takes swipe at Chelsea after Arsenal reach Champions League final<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Peter Schmeichel urges Manchester United to sign \u00a317m former Arsenal star<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" 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data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Thierry Henry reveals private conversation with Arsenal star before Atletico Madrid win | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Thierry #Henry #reveals #private #conversation #Arsenal #star #Atletico #Madrid #win #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry (Picture: Getty) Thierry Henry praised Bukayo Saka\u2019s efforts to battle&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[617,6035,6377,317,5159,2299,1441,653,654,5158,1766],"class_list":["post-8413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-arsenal","tag-atletico","tag-conversation","tag-football","tag-henry","tag-madrid","tag-private","tag-reveals","tag-star","tag-thierry","tag-win"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1473733996_1778021233-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a 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