Henry backs Lacazette to have a big impact at the Emirates

The 39-year-old said that he is a big fan of the former Lyon man but he also stressed that Arsenal will need their entire squad if they are to improve after a disappointing season last time out.

Speaking to 'Sky Sports News', Henry said: "[Lacazette] has a different game to Giroud, which I think is good because you need different types of strikers."

"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.

"But that rotation will be key. 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.

"You're waiting on Lacazette to have an impact with the fee, I know you shouldn't mention that, but that's how it is nowadays."

The former Barca man also made a rather curious observation.

"It's ironic when you think about it that Giroud starts for France and Lacazette is his sub, and it looks at club level like Giroud will be the sub. I don't know if that's ever happened in the history of the game!" he joked.

Henry concluded by saying: "I'm a big fan of him. I saw him playing for a long time in the French league and in the youth team. He was always a talent that everyone was waiting for him to grow into, and to be fair he did, he's been scoring goals every season."

High praise from one of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers.