HENRY CAN INSPIRE ME TO STUN GUNNERS

Thierry was Pompey star Ronan’s hero

PORTSMOUTH winger Ronan Curtis will seek inspiration from boyhood hero Thierry Henry to try to send Arsenal crashing out of the FA Cup.

The Londoner grew up worshipping Henry and his fellow Invincibles and says it will be a dream come true to face the Gunners tonight.

Curtis, 23, said: “I got my wish! It will be like a dream to play against my all-time favourite team. My heroes were Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp, just the classics really.

“The Invincibles were unbelievable. Obviously Arsenal do not really play that way now but just to play against them will be unbelievable.

“I grew up in south London, in Croydon, and I really liked the way they played football and the movement and players they had.

“I loved Thierry Henry, his finishing and his all-round game was amazing.

“It has been a long time since Pompey beat Arsenal at Fratton Park and so it would be lovely if we could win.”

Since winning the cup in 2008 and losing to Chelsea in the final two years later, Pompey have fallen on hard times, plummeting from the Premier League all the way down to League Two.

But Kenny Jackett’s side are third in League One and have already booked a Wembley date by reaching the final of the EFL Trophy for the second season running.

Curtis has warned Arsenal to expect a bruising physical battle at a sold-out Fratton Park. The Republic of Ireland star said: “Our pitch is a tight pitch. The fans are right on top of us and Arsenal will not be used to playing in conditions like that. We will stick it up them.

“They will be favourites but with the way we have been playing there is no reason we cannot beat them. It is just 11 men versus 11 men.

“They are not used to playing against League One teams and that is what we are there to bring. They don’t like the physical side so we will bring that into play.

“The lads are buzzing and we are all looking forward to it.”

Curtis is Pompey’s top scorer this season with 13 and says he owes much of his success to his mum. Marie is her son’s biggest fan and even writes motivational pep talks for the former Derry City hotshot and his team-mates on Twitter before every game.

Curtis added: “Me and my mum get on like a house on fire. She is my idol.

“She is staying with me now until the end of the season and she does everything in the house.

“That is a little bonus for me and I can just sit back and relax and think about the games coming up and focus on my football.”