Henry (centre) wants honours with Arsenal.
HENRY AIMS FOR ARSENAL HONOURS
By Matt Barlow, PA Sport
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Thierry Henry clutched his European Championship winners' medal and then vowed
to clinch his next piece of silverware with Arsenal.
The 22-year-old also claimed his third Man of the Match award of the
tournament as he helped France back from the brink to beat Italy 2-1 with a
Golden Goal in the Euro 2000 final.
He has already won the World Cup in his young career but, after celebrating
the latest achievement with the all-conquering French squad, he is looking
forward to a taste of glory with the Gunners.
Henry said: "There are so many things I can still win at club level. I've
been very happy to win these things but there are so many more victories still
ahead.
"We finished so far behind Manchester United in the league and then went to
the UEFA Cup final and we lost and now I really want to win something with
Arsenal.
"Now I have to rest and maybe next season win a competition with my team."
Substitutes David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord were the goal heroes for
France as they fought back after conceding the opener to Marco Delvecchio in the
55th minute.
Italy thought they had upset the odds against the World Champions but, in the
fourth minute of stoppage time, Wiltord pounced to drive the equaliser past
Francesco Toldo.
Trezeguet grabbed the Golden Goal winner, 13 minutes into extra time, to make
France the second team in history to hold World and European crowns
simultaneously.
France's thrilling victory in Rotterdam left Italy heartbroken and Henry, a
former Juventus player, felt a tinge of sadness for some of his old team-mates.
Henry said: "I had a difficult time at Juventus and a lot of those players
tried to help me. I wanted to see all the Juventus players. We had won but I was
disappointed for them.
"Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Maybe next time I will be on the
wrong side."
Juve star Alessandro del Piero helped lift Italy's game when he came on as a
second half sub. He upped the tempo before Delvecchio's goal but went on to
waste two great chances to sew the game up before Wiltord's leveller.
Coach Dino Zoff, however, refused to criticise del Piero after the agonising
defeat.
Zoff said: "You can't blame him. There were many times when he was up front
and he did things well.
"We were after the second goal. We didn't manage it but I think it was right
that we went after it.
"We were 93 minutes into the match and then we get a goal against us. No
matter what anybody says, I think we did well."
Roger Lemerre, in contrast, was delighted to help his country extend their
domination of European football but insisted the glory belonged to his players.
The coach hailed veteran defender Laurent Blanc, who now plans to retire from
international football, and captain Didier Deschamps, who has no plans to stop
playing for his country.
Lemerre said: "It is quite logical that we will miss Blanc but I don't think
he will change his mind. He is a big man. He decided to go on with the group for
a few years and it is wonderful that he has this reward.
"If he changed his mind I would be very happy. He is always fit and
competitive and will always be welcome.
"Victory belongs to the players. To Blanc and Didier Deschamps and the other
players.
"I understand teams need a great general. Deschamps has been a great general
and I hope he remains in our team for a long time."