Henry backs Lacazette to shine in Arsenal

Thierry Henry believes Alexandre Lacazette will succeed at Arsenal, but manager Arsene Wenger will need a full squad to collectively achieve success.

Lacazette joined Arsenal from Olympique Lyon for a club-record fee in the off-season, and considering his start in Sunday’s Community Shield victory over Chelsea, is set to be Wenger’s first choice up front.

Henry, Arsenal’s all-time top goal scorer with 228 goals, believes both Lacazette and Olivier Giroud will offer versatility for the current squad’s benefit.

“Lacazette has a different game to Giroud, which I think is good because you need different types of strikers,” Henry said.

He did it in the French league and people might say it’s a different league, but, with due respect to Lyon, he’ll also be with better players. I’m backing him to have a good season.

Sometimes you’ll need Giroud or even Alexis Sanchez in the middle and sometimes you’ll need Danny Welbeck or Theo Walcott, whoever will have an impact.”

The 26-year-old French striker has drawn comparisons to Henry, but what is for certain, he is adept as both finisher and facilitator.

Sorely missed in Lyon’s Europa League semi-final defeat to Ajax Amsterdam, Lacazette provided goals as well as assists, contributing to 39 total goals in both Ligue 1 and European competition last season.

Henry is confident he will have an impact.

I’m a big fan of him,” Henry said. “I saw him playing for a long time in the French league and in the youth team.

He was always a talent that everyone wants him to grow into, and to be fair he did, he’s been scoring goals every season.Arsenal opens their league campaign on Saturday, when they host Leicester

.