Thierry Henry today acknowledged the debt he owed to Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger as he made an indisputable case for inclusion in the French team that will launch their Euro 2000 campaign against Denmark in Bruges on Sunday.

Henry was outstanding in the 5-1 hammering of Morocco in Casablanca in the final of the King Hassan 11 tournament last night. He opened the scoring in the 27th minute and his partner-ship with Nicolas Anelka combined pace, power and skill. It was lethal.

While Henry started the season with a distant dream to possibly make the squad that will attempt to add the European title to their world crown, it is now a distinct possibility that he will link with his close friend Anelka - who also scored last night - to form a strike force that could help France make history.

'I know what I owe to Arsenal and I would like to thank Arsene Wenger for the help he has given me and the faith he has had in me all along,' said Henry. 'Without him, I would not be here. In England, I have adjusted to playing up front instead of out wide, as I did for so many years.

'I still remember when the manager asked me to play in that role at Liverpool. It was so strange. I was rubbish. But he kept telling me it would work out and thank-fully it did.'

Ironically, Henry's switch of direction was prompted by the acrimonious departure of Anelka to Real Madrid last summer. Arsenal were left short of a player with speed and strength to replace Anelka. Now they have given French manager Roger Lemerre a genuine dilemma when he comes to select his front pairing.

It was thought that Monaco's David Trezeguet and Bordeaux's Sylvain Wiltord would lead the French assault but Lemerre may now have to think again.

'It was great to play with Nico again,' said Henry. 'It must be four years or so, but it was like we knew instinctively what we were going to do. It was like telepathy.'