Monaco starlet Mbappe can emulate Arsenal legend as Man City await in Champions League
When Arsene Wenger unveiled Thierry Henry in 1999, he spoke confidently about his potential impact at the club. "He has good experience of both club and international football and will considerably strengthen our firepower,” Wenger said.
Fast forward some 18 years and Wenger has once again witnessed that special X factor in Kylian Mbappe.
“Mbappe is exactly, well not exactly Thierry Henry, but it is true that he has similar qualities and the talent is similar, the potential is similar,” Wenger said on the Ligue 1 show. “We follow him, we know him very well, and he is developing well. He extended his contract with Monaco last season and so it’s Monaco who are going to decide his future. He could be another Thierry Henry.”
A bold claim it is one backed up by Henry. “When I first saw him play against Tottenham in the Europa League, as soon as I saw him, I knew he was a player,” Henry told RMC Sport. “I said: ‘who is he?’
“At 16 and a half [years old], he was asking for the ball, he could dribble, he was having shots, he was winning the ball back and he loved the ball.”
By then, the teenager had already nabbed Henry’s record as the youngest ever debutant for Monaco. A few months after the defeat at Spurs, (in which he assisted the consolation goal) Mbappe was again breaking one of Henry’s records. Finding the net in a 3-1 win over Troyes to become the club’s youngest ever scorer, his ability was clear to see.
Tall and lean, Mbappe’s frame is that of the perfect athlete. His speed can be devastating, and his eagerness to hang on the shoulder of the last defender means his well timed runs often produce results. Just as important as his ability though is the manager overseeing it. Leonardo Jardim has developed a counter-attacking style that perfectly fits the talents of Mbappe.
As he showed recently against Montpellier his ability to run in behind is supplemented by a composure inside the penalty area. Racing away from his opponent he calmly opened up his body before side footing it past the advancing goalkeeper. It was like watching Henry.
Jardim is not rushing the precocious teenager though. Mbappe has been used sparingly this season, with Jardim encouraging him to do work at both ends of the field. "I have congratulated Kylian Mbappe for his three goals,” Jardim said after the recent 5-0 win over Metz. “He was great offensively but I have [congratulated] him on his defensive work as well.”
Not yet a regular starter for Monaco that has not stopped potential suitors arriving. Wenger confirmed earlier this month he is interested in the striker, but even he will know Mbappe still has things to work on. At just 18 his body is not yet fully developed, while in some instances he has appeared slightly one footed.
Some of those fears may be quelled after Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Manchester City. Mbappe looks unlikely to start for Monaco, but could be the perfect candidate for a late cameo against Pep Guardiola’s side. Impress there and he could tempt Wenger into taking a chance, just like he did back in 1999.