Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has declared ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry as the greatest player in Premier League history.

The English top flight has seen numerous iconic players, leading to ongoing debates about who deserves the title of the league’s all-time best.

Some point to Alan Shearer, who holds the record for the most Premier League goals (260). Others highlight Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance during his six-year spell with Manchester United. Chelsea fans often advocate for the influence of club legends like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, with 178 goals and 82 assists, has also entered the conversation. However, Mikel believes Salah falls short in the “complete player” category despite acknowledging his impressive numbers and evolution since their days together at Chelsea.

“Numbers-wise, you can put Salah in the conversation, but when you want to talk about a complete player, you can’t put him in the conversation,” Mikel stated on the Obi One Podcast.

He added: “The best player to have played in the Premier League is Thierry Henry. There was a period when he dominated the league for two to three years. He had everything—he was so good on the ball; he had everything.”

Henry, who played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s success, including their historic “Invincibles” season, remains a defining figure in Premier League history

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained that 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri is not permitted to prepare for matches in the senior dressing room due to safeguarding regulations.

Despite enjoying a breakout season with impressive performances across the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup, Nwaneri must adhere to rules that require players to be 18 or older to share a dressing room with the senior squad.

Arteta highlighted how the rules affect Nwaneri’s matchday preparations. “Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day,” Arteta said.

The manager also spoke about the bond between Nwaneri and fellow young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly. “When you see those two walking next to each other, talking to each other, there is a bond there and a chemistry there,” he remarked.

Arteta added, “I imagine for them it is special because at the moment they are still in different dressing rooms [at the training ground]. So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other.”

As Nwaneri continues his development under Arteta, the safeguarding restrictions are a reminder of his youthful age despite his rapid rise in professional football.