http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006370259,00.html Three kings of Arsenal IN my first column as Arsenal skipper at the start of last season, I said there must always be more than one leader in a team. It's vital to have three or four. Apart from myself, I felt Sol Campbell, Dennis Bergkamp and Ashley Cole all had massive contributions to make in this relatively young team. They were also our captains. In their own different ways, they all had a major role in helping us to the Champions League final. One year later, Sol has gone to Portsmouth, Dennis has retired and Ashley may be leaving us. As I also said in this paper earlier in the week, you are never happy when you see top players leave a club for whatever reason. Along with Sol, Dennis and possibly Ashley, Robert Pires has also left us. It’s a big shame they’ve all gone. Before the end of this month, I really hope here will be some new arrivals to follow Tomas Rosicky. But while some incredibly influential players have left, I’m certain three more Arsenal players will now make an even greater contribution to the team this season. I’m talking about Jens Lehmann, Kolo Toure and Gilberto. They will become our new leaders. They’re no longer the new guys at this club and there is no doubt those three will help this team build on what we delivered last season — starting with Aston Villa a week today. Jens is so vocal. I’ll admit this but not all players like it as he shouts and has a go. He had a great year last year and was brilliant in the World Cup. He’s an amazing player to have in the team. I can reveal Gilberto will be my vice-captain and, while he’s hardly a screamer, he calms the team down. He’s Brazilian. He’s chilled. Kolo is more vocal and, like the other two, forms the backbone of the current Arsenal side. So those three have a big role — it can’t just be me as leader. And despite the exit of some great players, I’m genuinely excited about this season. I’ll be honest with you now. Rewind 12 months and the morale at Arsenal was pretty low. Patrick Vieira had left and when we suffered injuries, we were forced to bring in some developing players. Maybe they weren’t quite ready. But a year on, and after a terrific run to the Champions League final, everything has changed. No kidding, the morale in this team is as good as I have ever known and I genuinely believe we can get even better. As the team showed in Zagreb the other night, we can be strong. It was an amazing result. I was so happy to see that we totally controlled the game — away from home — against a decent team. The youngsters are not young any more. Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Mathieu Flamini, Johan Djourou and Justin Hoyte all played so well the other night. They have matured. I have been asked whether there is any regret in not joining Barcelona but of course there isn’t. Arsenal is my club, London is my home. I can’t see myself ever leaving this great city. But while remaining at Arsenal, I did make one summer transfer. I have moved to Reebok. I’m really enjoying it. I wanted to be involved with everything. I wanted to be part of a team and I helped design the boot I am wearing. That was amazing. It is now about the athletes rather than being about the brand. This was a big thing for me, to have a say in everything rather than just be a guy who turns up and does what he is told. Anyway, since being back here in London a lot of people, enviably I suppose, have asked me about the World Cup. Or rather, they have asked me about Zizou’s incident with Marco Materazzi. People talk about it more than the final, which is a shame. I know it was unusual for Materazzi to get a ban for what he said — but you have to set an example to do something. It was a big thing what was said to Zizou and FIFA could not let it go. I guess the strangest memory from that final was Italy going up to lift the World Cup and so many people booing. Obviously, I was down after we lost. But this was my fifth big tournament so it wasn’t too hard to get out of my system. Also, when we went back to France the reception we received was just fantastic. Everyone was saying how well we’d done as so few had expected us to do well. Just 48 hours after the final, I went on holiday to Miami before heading to New York. I love America and it was nice to walk around Central Park with my family. Unfortunately, I missed my daughter’s first birthday as I was on international duty. I’m not complaining. It is one of those things, being a footballer, that you have to deal with. Hopefully, I’ll be around for her second birthday next May and that I’ll also have something to celebrate with Arsenal. Thierry Henry will feature in Reebok’s new football campaign based on the brand’s ‘I am what I am’ message. To see exclusive footage of him at the Reebok launch event go to www.rbk.com Courtesy of SEM Group INTERVIEW by CHARLIE WYETT --

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