Arsenal legend Thierry Henry insists no stadium he has played in, regardless of size or aesthetics, will ever compare to Highbury.
The Frenchman spent eight years with Arsenal after arriving from Juventus in 1999, subsequently becoming their top goalscorer of all time with 288 goals in all competitions, including 114 at Highbury.
Henry famously kissed the pitch after Arsenal's final game at Highbury, many believing the Frenchman was signalling a farewell to his adoring fanbase.
The 42-year-old - speaking to Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp on Thursday's The Football Show - revealed that it was not a goodbye to the club, however, but to the stadium, his "garden".
"It's difficult to put into words what Highbury represented to me or any Arsenal fans," Henry said. "I kissed the ground for a reason and at the time, people thought I was going to leave Arsenal and go to Barcelona and that's why I kissed the ground.
"I actually kissed the ground goodbye because I knew it was over. I was never going to play in my garden again. I was never going to see that grass early in the morning when we were in the meeting at 11am and I used to walk by the field and I would say to it 'see you later my man'.
"I had great memories there, bad memories although they were more good than bad. Everyone loves to play at Highbury. I don't know what it was."
Following a glittering spell with Arsenal, Henry played both in Spain with Barcelona and in America with New York Red Bulls. And while he eventually made a loan return to the Emirates, he never revisited Highbury.
"I never went back to see it, it's a flat development now but I refuse to go," Henry added. "It's too hard for me to see it like that. I know it's weird but there is nothing above Highbury for me.
"I played in a lot of stadiums, bigger stadiums, more beautiful stadiums in terms of the way it's been built or whatever but Highbury is Highbury and it always will be. Nothing can compete with Highbury for me."
