Henry takes swipe at Spurs

AFP - 29 April 2007 16:12

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, seen here in February 2007, has taken a cheeky swipe at bitter rivals Tottenham by criticising their exaggerated celebrations whenever they avoid defeat in the north London derby.

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal captain Thierry Henry took a cheeky swipe at bitter rivals Tottenham by criticising their exaggerated celebrations whenever they avoid defeat in the north London derby.

Henry was baffled when Tottenham's players and fans wildly celebrated Jermaine Jenas's last minute equaliser during the team's 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane earlier this month.

The France striker insists Martin Jol's team should show more restraint because they have failed to achieve anything significant this season.

"What makes me laugh is the way Tottenham always celebrate whenever they get a draw against us," Henry told the Arsenal programme for their match against Fulham.

"I would like to remind them that once again they have not made the Champions League. So I was amazed to see their reaction at the full-time whistle.

"I had to look twice at the score on the TV because I thought they had won it the way they were celebrating."

There is little love lost between two clubs who are seperated by just a few miles and, while Henry is currently sidelined with a back injury, his controversial comments will ensure he remains firmly in the spotlight.

"When I celebrated my equaliser against them at home last season I did so because the goal had a meaning," he said.

"It turned out to be an important goal in the race for fourth place. I wasn't going to celebrate just because we drew against Tottenham.

"It was the same when we won the league there in 2004. They equalised to make it 2-2 that day and when I saw Taricco celebrate so much that he injured himself, I said to him 'you do realise we only needed a point and now we are celebrating the title on your ground."