HIS top goalscoring namesake helped take Arsenal to triumph in this season's league championship.

However, young Thierry Henry Hampshire is just as chuffed at the Gunners' unbeaten run at the top of the table.

The 20-year-old changed his name by deed poll three years ago in tribute to the international Arsenal striker who has scored more than 100 goals at Premiership level.

"I am a big, massive fan of Arsenal because they are the best team in the Premiership," he said.

The New Forest Thierry had to make do with sitting on the sidelines for his favourite team's league-winning match.

"I watched it on TV by myself, because I'm the only one in the family who supports Arsenal," he added.

Thierry Henry watched Sunday's match between Arsenal and Spurs on television at his home in Howe Close, New Milton.

It was gripping stuff - but without a goal from his namesake.

Thierry, 20, said: "It was a very good atmosphere and when it was all over the crowd were absolutely shouting, and I was cheering as well.

"It was an electric atmosphere between the fans and the Arsenal players."

He did not celebrate Arsenal's Premiership victory at the weekend but was due to celebrate this week with a drink at his local snooker club.

His mum, known as Del Boy, did not stay at home to watch the match.

"I can't stand football. Men kicking around a bag of air - and then all they do is kiss each other," she said.

New Milton's Thierry would love to see the French footballing ace play.

"I've got an Arsenal shirt but I haven't been to one of their games - not a single one," he admitted.

Arsenal's striker is said to be fiercely loyal to his club, but how long the New Milton Thierry Henry will stick around is another matter.

He has already gone through umpteen name changes, as his mum has a habit of confusing friends and relatives by swapping her moniker on a whim.

Christened Dawn Tutton over 40 years ago, the dinner lady has adopted a host of different names over the years, through her four marriages and changes by deed poll.

She was known as Freddie Mercury for nearly a decade due to her passion for the Queen's flamboyant frontman, while her son became David Mercury until the switch to Thierry Henry.

The Freddie identity bit the dust in 2001, and she became Melek Aysemin Ayse Filikgi Del Boy in tribute both to the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses and her Turkish boyfriend.