Henry could be the best of the best: Wenger

Manager Arsene Wenger believes striker Thierry Henry could be "the best of the best" after Arsenal's 3-1 defeat of Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Henry scored his 19th goal of the season -- a rate of a goal a game -- in the first half from a free kick after midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg opened the scoring for the London side with the first of his brace of goals.

"Thierry is unbelievable -- he has everything you need for a football player," Wenger said. "He is now starting to score from free kicks after scoring none last season.

"The question is how far does he want to go? He has everything to be the best of the best."

Wenger was just as impressed by his team's "great" performance, which was in complete contrast to their depressing 2-0 defeat by Deportivo Coruna in the opening game of the second round.

"I believe the team is growing and getting better and better and we showed it tonight. We showed all the aspects of a (complete) team," Wenger said.

"The potential is there -- we want to get better and I think we will. There is a real team spirit."

Arsenal, second in the English premier league, have hit top form since losing to Deportivo. They beat English champions Manchester United 3-1 and have suddenly gelled as a team, with Sol Campbell back to something like his England best at the centre of the defence.

"There is a great understanding in the team at the moment. We were very low after the Coruna game -- now everyone says we are great and I think we are.

"This win will give us credit on the European stage."

Wenger praised third-choice goalkeeper Stuart Taylor who kept Arsenal in the game early on with smart saves from Alessandro del Piero and Pavel Nedved, and also the contribution of Ljungberg who has now scored four goals in the last three games.

"Freddie is unbelievable. He works very hard and gets on the end of things -- it has been an amazing development."

Juventus coach Marcello Lippi was at a loss to explain the defeat although he was unhappy with the refereeing of Portugal's Vitor Manuel Melo Perreira.

"We started very well, with authority and initially Arsenal seemed to be on the defensive. Then it was 2-0 which was not justified despite Arsenal being an excellent team.

"They played their game and we played ours and in hindsight I can't fathom it out as we can't say Arsenal completely overrun us.

"It was a good game against an excellent team -- never mind."