The best is yet to come, says Henry

ARSENAL may have qualified in style for the knockout stages of the Champions League but captain Thierry Henry believes the Gunners can get even better.

Arsene Wenger’s side head into the last 16 having topped their group with five wins from six matches, earning home advantage for the second leg of the next round.

It could have been a 100% record but for last night’s stalemate with runners-up Ajax at Highbury, Henry missing a first-half injury time penalty.

“There was one season where I missed three in the Champions League. I will miss again, and I will score again. I will certainly sleep, trust me. I will put my hand up because if I had put the penalty in then maybe we would have won the game, so I take all the blame for that.

“But on the other side we forgot that football is a team effort game and not a solo or show game.”

He added: “I just think sometimes we do not respect the game. I love my game and sometimes when you pass the ball to each other, sometimes you need to please people around you.”

The knockout phase is not until February, and Henry knows the Champions League takes on a completely different outlook from now on.

“For me, a new competition is going to start,” he declared. “It is better to go there with no defeat, but on the other side it is another competition in the knockout stage. It is completely different.”