Manchester United's Anthony Martial is 'far better' than I was at 21, says Arsenal legend Thierry Henry

On song: Martial has been one of United's top performers in the early weeks of the season
AFP/Getty Images
James Benge6 October 2017

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes that Anthony Martial is “far better” than he was at 21 years of age.

Martial has enjoyed an impressive start to his third season as a Manchester United player, scoring five goals and laying on six assists in his first nine appearances.

On his arrival at Old Trafford in September 2015 Martial was compared with Henry. Both had become prominent at Monaco, had begun their career on the left wing but were viewed as strikers and were blessed with searing pace.

Henry, Arsenal’s record goalscorer and one of the greatest imports of the Premier League era, thinks Martial is hitting heights he could not have dreamed of at a young age.

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“Anthony Martial is a far better player than I was at that age,” said Henry. “He can become a world-class player.”

Having made a blistering start to his Manchester United career following his £36million switch, Martial endured something of a sophomore slump when Jose Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford.

Mourinho demanded more from the France international but Martial’s blistering start to this season has seen his manager praise the forward’s “great improvement”.