Former Super Eagles Defender Taribo West has described Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as one of the ‘toughest strikers’ he ever faced on the pitch.

West, speaking with The Punch, said 1998 World Cup winner in his hey days was simply unplayable.

“Henry was one of the toughest strikers I played against. Throughout my sojourn in Europe, I don’t think I slept, I was always calculating ahead of the next striker I would play against,” West said.

He however says he made Henry ‘sweat.’

“Henry was one of the emerging stars then, and when Auxerre played against Monaco, I always breathed down his neck. I made him shiver, like they were pouring snow on him. That’s why he said I was the toughest defender he played against.”

Based on available data, West may be right.

West and Henry faced off three times in the Ligue 1 with the Frenchman firing blanks in all the matches.

The Nigerian defender was a regular with French side Auxere, while Henry laced his boots for AS Monaco

The Frenchman scored 28 goals in 141 matches in six years at the Principality club.

However, both players never faced each other during their spells with Inter Milan and Juventus in Italy respectively.