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Arsene Wenger believes Thierry Henry should have walked away with this year's European footballer of the year award as easily as he strolls past defenders.
The 2006 'Ballon d'Or' is due to be announced next week and Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro is widely expected to succeed Barcelona's Brazilian Ronaldinho as the 51st winner of the prestigious prize.
But for Wenger, Gunners skipper Henry has had a better year.
"Congratulations to Cannavaro if that's the case," Wenger said Friday. "But for me there's only one candidate this year, it's Thierry Henry. He just deserves it.
"He was the best goal scorer in England, best player in England, best goal scorer in Europe behind Luca Toni, he played the Champions League final and he played the World Cup final."
Wenger believes Henry's only serious rival should have been Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, but insists his compatriot's record of consistent achievement over the last five years meant he should have received the award at least once.
"What does he have to do? Just to keep going. Sometimes you get rewarded at the moment where you expect it the least. That's as well the sign of a superchamp."
The 2006 'Ballon d'Or' is due to be announced next week and Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro is widely expected to succeed Barcelona's Brazilian Ronaldinho as the 51st winner of the prestigious prize.
But for Wenger, Gunners skipper Henry has had a better year.
"Congratulations to Cannavaro if that's the case," Wenger said Friday. "But for me there's only one candidate this year, it's Thierry Henry. He just deserves it.
"He was the best goal scorer in England, best player in England, best goal scorer in Europe behind Luca Toni, he played the Champions League final and he played the World Cup final."
Wenger believes Henry's only serious rival should have been Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, but insists his compatriot's record of consistent achievement over the last five years meant he should have received the award at least once.
"What does he have to do? Just to keep going. Sometimes you get rewarded at the moment where you expect it the least. That's as well the sign of a superchamp."
Bout Henry nuh play team. 
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