As Thierry Henry lifted what was to become the iconic number 14 shirt for the first time at Highbury Stadium on August 3rd 1999, few in attendance knew the moment of history they were witnessing. Eight years, 228 goals and six trophies were to follow, but the legendary striker's Arsenal story had begun many years before.
Arsene Wenger had first come across his compatriot as a teenager at Monaco who had come through a course at the prestigious Clairefontaine academy and was viewed by most to be a promising young winger on account of his spectacular dribbling ability. Wenger though, saw something different.
He handed a 17-year-old Henry his debut in August 1994 as a centre forward due to a hunch he had that the youngster's "pace, physical power and spirit" would give him the potential to play the role. The pair's initial relationship was to be brief however, as Wenger was sacked by Monaco weeks later, and Henry was restored once more to the wing.
