• France

Petit upset by French treatment of Henry

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Thierry Henry is unfairly treated by the national media in France.

Petit featured alongside Henry in the France team that lifted the 1998 World Cup on home soil, and spent three years playing with him at Arsenal between 1997 and 2000.

Thierry Henry retired from France duty after the 2010 World Cup © Getty Images

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"In England, they've built a statue of Thierry," Petit told the French website sports.fr, when asked about his favourite memories of Henry.

"That means a lot. He is revered there. This bad image [in the French press] of Thierry Henry, it annoys me.

"What can we reproach Henry for? His handball against Ireland? He helped France qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. He has done nothing.

"France is hypocritical and cowardly. Sometimes I think that if we'd been overrun by the Germans, we'd be better run."

His outburst comes after Henry announced his exit from MLS side New York Red Bulls, having admitted he would like to return to Arsenal in a coaching capacity.

Petit, who made 85 appearances for Arsenal before joining Barcelona and retiring at Chelsea in 2004, continued by comparing Henry's treatment in his national press to that of Wayne Rooney in the English media.

"Wayne Rooney is not hated in England, even though he was not always right in his boots on the field and off. Thierry Henry never had a bad move on the pitch and there were no stories in his private life," Petit added.

"He's not hated but he's certainly not loved. He got screwed by the French press after his handball and has since not spoken to the French media.

"In France, he has no collusion with the press, so what? Perhaps because he was not smiling when he scored for Les Bleus! Well, that's what I hate in this country.

"I have great difficulty with the French, I have never seen such arrogant, smug, lying and hypocritical people."

Henry announced his exit for New York Red Bulls this week, having admitted a desire to return to Arsenal in a coaching capacity to try and help them win the Champions League.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd