Henry pained to face ex-club Arsenal in Champions League quarterfinal

London, Mar 23 (ANI): Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has revealed that his heart sank when he learned his Barcelona side had been drawn against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Henry, a former Arsenal skipper, scored 226 goals in 380 appearances for them in eight years before joining Barcelona in 2007.

The French striker said he doesn't want to play against his old side and certainly would not celebrate if he scored against them in the quarterfinal ties.

"Whenever there is a draw for the Champions League I am in pain. I'm not saying I won't try to fight or whatever, because that's the way the game is. But I don't want to play against Arsenal," The Daily Express quoted Henry, as saying.

He is set to play against the Gunners for the first time since leaving in the quarter-finalfirst leg on March 31 at the Emirates Stadium. He said: "It will be weird for me to step on the pitch, even if it's at the Emirates and not Highbury, with another club's shirt on."

And, asked if he would celebrate a goal, he said: "Forget about it. No. I do not want to play against Arsenal, simple as that. The bond that I have with the Arsenal fans I will never get anywhere else, because I don't think I will ever play for another team for that long.

"Eight years - I don't think I will be with another team for eight years because I am getting old now." (ANI)