Leicester City have acted as a source of inspiration to many over the years.
Their Premier League success in 2016 gave everyone in football the belief that anything is possible.
The chances of Elvis Presley still being alive were considered more likely than the Foxes winning the title but Claudio Ranieri’s men defied the odds.
Belief in the camp was so strong that some Leicester players knew they’d win the league by Christmas – an admission made by the goalkeeper for that season, Kasper Schmeichel.
Now, any time a club/country punches above their weight and delivers something positively unexpected, the term ‘doing a Leicester’ often arises and the latest person to posit the idea is none other than Thierry Henry.
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Thierry Henry cites Leicester Premier League title win as Arsenal inspiration
Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarter finals after a 9-3 aggregate win against Dutch outfit, and former club of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s, PSV Eindhoven.
Mikel Arteta’s side will now face holders Real Madrid in the last eight after they controversially beat Atletico Madrid on penalties.
It’s the toughest draw they could’ve got and the Gunners will be the underdogs going into the tie, but Henry believes that they can use Leicester’s title win as inspiration.
Speaking on CBS’ Champions League coverage, he said: “If you arrive in front of Real Madrid thinking let’s see what’s going to happen you might as well not go.
“I do believe that you go into a game believing you can win this is what dreams are made of this is what you are thinking of.
“I’ve seen Greece winning the Euros, I’ve seen Leicester winning the league just believe that you can that’s what I’m saying. Are you going to do it? That’s a different ball game.”
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Leicester beat Arsenal to the Premier League title in 2016
It’s all well and good saying to be inspired by Leicester for their own success, but Henry may have forgotten that Arsenal were the side that finished second behind the Foxes that season.
Arsenal were the only side to do the double over Ranieri’s side that year too, hammering them 5-2 at the King Power Stadium before a dramatic 2-1 win on 14 February 2016 at Emirates Stadium.
On a day of love it was Arsenal who broke Leicester hearts as Danny Welbeck’s stoppage time winner seemed to put the ball in the Gunners’ court.
That wasn’t to be the case though as the Foxes regrouped, maintained their lead at the top and eventually finished in first place, 10 points clear of Arsenal.