LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added to the ongoing war of words with Manchester United by insisting that the Gunners' Thierry Henry was the best striker in the world and more of an all-round player than Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Last month United beat Arsenal 2-0 at Old Trafford with van Nistelrooy scoring from the penalty spot, a result that ended the English champions and leaders' top-flight record of 49 unbeaten games.
But Wenger labelled van Nistelrooy a "cheat" after the striker trod on Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, one of several ill-tempered incidents in the fiery game.
In midweek the Dutchman was on target again, scoring four goals in United's Champions League victory against Sparta Prague.
By contrast Henry, who scored from the penalty spot against Greek club Panathinaikos, had an otherwise quiet game in a 1-1 home draw that once again raised doubts about Arsenal's ability to conquer Europe.
But Frenchman Wenger, speaking ahead of Saturday's Premiership match against Crystal Palace, defended his compatriot Henry.
He cited Henry's record of 56 goals in 84 games in the past 15 months and insisted that not even van Nistelrooy's tally of 48 goals in 68 games could match it.
"I feel the criticism of Thierry is completely undeserved and amazing," Wenger said.
"Don't forget, this guy is top scorer and provider in the league, and top scorer in the Champions League for us. We should only praise him.
"Look at his record. He's won championships in England and France, cups in England, the World Cup and the European Championships with France, but still has to justify himself.
"Who can you compare him with? Nobody. You cannot compare him with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Thierry is a goalscorer and a provider, while van Nistelrooy is a goal-getter in the box.
"Nobody else up front can repeat, week in and week out, the quality of what he is achieving. You cannot do it in every game.
"Shevchenko doesn't do it, Ronaldo doesn't do it, nobody does it. You have to accept that a man is not a machine.
"But Thierry has still done it in big games. He's scored eight goals against Manchester United, a hat-trick away to Roma and two against Inter last season."
Wenger added Henry would silence his detractors. "Thierry responds well to criticism, but in this case it's a bit overboard.
"It's because of all the comparisons between him and van Nistelrooy, but it's not based in fact.
"Look at the number of games he plays. It's amazing. When you're at a big club and have players with that kind of consistency, you have to accept they will be a bit less fresh at some points as they're only human beings.
"When you're a striker, you have to accept that you will miss chances, or you would commit suicide.
"I don't think that it is playing on his mind. He was world champion at 20. Do I think he's still the best striker in the world? Yes, of course I do."
Wenger admitted that Arsenal had been stumbling in the build-up to Saturday's match where they will look for their first win in five games without the likes of Sol Campbell, Gilberto Silva and Edu.
"We are suffering a bit physically at the moment, a little bit less sharp, but we've had it before and it's just part of the season.
"We are in a marathon and this is a mile when it's a bit less easy, but we have the quality and the mental strength and togetherness to bring us back to the normal level.
"We had a hangover after the United game. It's always like that, you go down and come slowly up again, but I'm confident we've got over it.
"It's a bit surreal to say we are in a crisis. We're in a very good position to qualify in the Champions League and we're at the top of the Premiership. I still believe in our strengths."

11/06/2004 - 13:01 GMT - AFP