French striker Thierry Henry is the best forward in the world and should only be praised, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.

The French marksman came under fire recently from British media for failing to lift his team out of a string of poor results in the English Premier League and Europe.

"I feel the criticism of Henry is completely undeserved and amazing," Wenger told a news conference.

"This guy is the top scorer and provider for us in the league and the Champions League. We should only praise him."

Henry scored three times in Arsenal's last four winless matches, finding the net against Southampton and Panathinaikos but failing to deliver against arch-rivals Manchester United.

His performance, coupled with Arsenal's below-par results, prompted critics to question his ability to score against big teams with Arsenal and the French national team.

With Zinedine Zidane quitting international football, Henry was seen by many as the new inspiration of the French side, but the 27-year old has yet to leave his mark on the former World Cup winners.

Wenger, however, insisted his striker is the best in the world and a more effective player than Manchester United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"Look at his record. He has won championships in England and France, the World Cup and the European championship with France, but still has to justify himself," Wenger said.

"Who can you compare him with? Nobody. You cannot compare Henry as a scorer and provider with Van Nistelrooy who is a goal-getter in the box."

Henry is the Premier League's top scorer this season with nine goals, but has found the net only twice in the Champions League.

His situation is not dissimilar to Van Nistelrooy's, only the reverse. The Dutchman is the European competition's leading scorer with seven goals, but has scored only twice in the Premier League.