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Thierry Henry has admitted he would love to have played with Mesut Ozil at Arsenal, and believes the Germany playmaker has the quality to help them end their eight-year trophy drought.

Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer insists the former Real Madrid man has backed up his £42.5million price tag since joining the Emirates club this summer and compared Ozil to fellow Arsenal old boy Robert Pires.

And the spearhead of Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles side claims Ozil’s vision, passing ability and composure on the ball make him a striker’s dream.

In the know: Thierry Henry believes Mesut Ozil has made the difference since signing from Real Madrid

Lynchpin: Mesut Ozil (right) has shone since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid this summer

I would have loved to have played with him, he reminds me of Robert Pires,’ Henry told Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Napoli. ‘He will share the ball. He can find a guy who is quick, a target striker. He can play any type of ball.

'He has the thing you want from a midfielder. He has time. It seems like he is playing on his own in his garden.

'He brought that composure on the ball that you need. I think he brought that to Arsenal football club.

'Him coming with his name. You have got to back it up. He did back it up.'

Arsenal were beaten 2-0 in Naples to finish as runners-up in their group, meaning a potential last-16 tie with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

And Henry said: 'I remember the year we went to the final. Everybody laughed when we beat Real Madrid. You know, I remember them leaving the draw and saying we’re happy with Arsenal.

'Then we beat them. Then we went to play Juve, and everybody was like, that’s an easy one for Juve.

'Then we went through. But that’s not the road you want to take right? You don’t want to play against those teams, but that’s the way it is.'

Arsene Wenger’s side sit five points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and Henry believes one result last season gave his beloved Arsenal the impetus to make such a marked improvement over the summer.

Arsenal outclassed eventual Champions League winners Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in March, but their 2-0 victory wasn’t enough to prevent them losing the last-16 tie on away goals.

Talisman: Mesut Ozil celebrates after netting against Everton last weekend

Goal time: Robert Pires also had a nose for goals while at Arsenal

Dynamic duo: Ozil (left) and Robert Pires (right) have much in common, according to Thierry Henry

Over the moon: Olivier Giroud celebrates his strike at the Allianz Arena last season

Legend: Arsenal's Thierry Henry remains much loved at the Emirates Stadium

But the France World Cup-winner believes the north-London club regained a winning mentality and a self belief after beating arguably the world’s best club teams in their own back yard.

When asked what has impressed him most about Arsenal’s outstanding start to the season, he said: ‘Just the belief that they have again.’

‘Knowing that they can beat any team at any moment. I think, if you remember well, the game against Bayern Munich, away from home, did a lot for them.

‘Knowing that they can beat the Champions – they didn’t know it at the time – away from home, and well, did a lot for the team. Since that game, everything changed. For me.‘

Henry also cast his eye over the Ballon d'Or candidates, running the rule over Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

'He’s a great player. He’s another type of player,' Henry said of Bayern Munich winger and countryman Franck Ribery. 'He’d rather set up someone than score a goal. That’s the type of player you want to play with. For me, obviously, I would love for him to win it.'

Henry admits that he was sceptical of former international team-mate Louis Saha when he told Henry Ronaldo would one day be the world's best.

Ronaldo meets himself (in wax) at Madrid museum