Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has insisted he wasn't as bothered about winning the Premier League's Golden Boot as his fierce rival Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The former Manchester United striker, it has been revealed by teammates, became obsessed with beating Henry to the prize. The Dutchman prized goals over anything else. But Henry has now said he didn't think that way and was equally concerned with assists and just helping the Gunners to victories.
The Frenchman will go down as one of the Premier League's best ever strikers, winning the Golden Boot in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Van Nistelrooy won it in 2003.
Henry was asked about the rivalry on an Instagram Live with Puma Football. He said: "It became a story between me and him because it was always him or me, but I don’t know if you remember I used to give penalties away. I used to give penalties away!
"When Edu played his last game for Arsenal and I was battling with Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Golden Boot I gave him the penalty.
"It’s because you ask me the question don’t get me wrong…but if you look at the number of my assists I gave in the game and sometimes I was in front of the goal and I squared it.
"I would not have all those assists if I was only just thinking about the Golden Boot."
Henry did admit he would be unhappy when he didn't score and remembered the pain of one occasion when Van Nistelrooy passed him in the race to be the league's top scorer.
"I was upset if I didn’t give an assist or I didn’t score," added Henry.
"Then I felt I didn’t help my team. Sometimes you can be amazing in a game without a goal and assist, sometimes really poor with a goal and assist so it depends on what people value.
"If I didn’t help my team in any shape that’s when I come on the bus and put my head down, maybe saying stuff I shouldn’t be saying because I get upset with myself.
"There’s a game in Sunderland where we were sure to be in Champions League and I gave Ljungberg three assists in the game and Ruud passed me with a goal.
"I could be greedy and play for myself but that’s how the game is. Ruud was an amazing striker, I had so many battles with him, he was a striker playing in an amazing team."
