記： Have you come down from the high of winning Euro 2000 yet?

亨： "Not really, it's still a great feeling, a great achievement. We had a very difficult group and we had very difficult matches against Portugal and Spain just to reach the final. Then we were losing until the very end, but we came back. We proved we can go behind and still win."

記： Was it important to prove the World Cup wasn't a one-off?

亨： "Definitely. Some people said at France 98 that we only won the World Cup because of an easy group, because we were at home, we just beat Italy on penalties and because there was the golden goal - but we proved ourselves by finally beating Brazil 3-0. People were not happy because they said the World Cup happened in France - we were told this was an advantage. But I guess this victory shows we are able to win."

記： So what was it like playing against such a tough Italian defence in the final?

亨： "They were compact and it was difficult to break them down. I had to try running from the the centre to the wings because it was the only way i could get the ball at my feet. The Italians tend to always concentrate on the game, but they must have taken their eyes off for some amount of time during the game because we managed to score right at the end of the game."

記： Is this team better than the side that won France 98?

亨： "I think it is difficult to compare the two. People will say that we are better now because we won away from home and because we played many great teams. but in football a game is always a fight. For example, in qualifying we scored a goal in the last minute against Andorra to win 1-0 so that wasn't that easy. You can't compare the two since we won both the competitions."

記： So what makes the present team so good?

亨： "I can't explain to you about the France team. We have a great mentality as you saw in the final and the semi-final. All the time we were losing 1-0 to the Italians and to the Portuguese, we attacked again and again. Coming back is usually difficult but of course we have a lot of quality and we have our mentality. We had to enjoy that Final and then go and enjoy it with our fans in Paris."

記： How does it feel to be a top striker and not a winger?

亨： "It's different and it took a while to get used to again. When I was 16 at Monaco I played as a striker, but when I got into the first team I had to play as a winger and started to lose confidence in front of goal. I didn't have that feeling in front of goal because when your a winger you have to go wide and cross. Sometimes you get a good opportunity to score but I wasn't confident. So it took a while for that confidence to come back."

記： Is that why it took time for you to settle at Arsenal?

亨： "Well, I had problems settling in England to begin with and I think last season I missed more chances than I scored at the beginning. All the time, Patrick Viera used to tease me about missing and at the beginning it was funny, but at the end it was true as well. And they weren't difficult chances, just a good shot for a normal striker and sometimes I would shoot and it would end up by the clock at Highbury."

記： Do you think you were trying too hard?

亨： "Perhaps. I certainly think striker is the most difficult position to play in, with the 'keeper as well, because when they make an error it is usually a goal. As a striker, when you do not score for one game or maybe two, three, any more than four, you lose confidence and people start talking about you. You must make sure you score all the time."

記： Did you ever ask Arsene Wenger if you could go back to the wing?

亨： "No. To be honest I wanted to do it but I didn't because I have a lot of confidence in him. I was in the French World Cup squad as a winger and everyone knew me as a winger. One day I thought I had to speak to the boss but when I arrived at training I thought it would be alright. I just thought I had to keep going all season."

記： How were the Arsenal fans when you weren't scoring?

亨： "When I had to come on the pitch they were always clapping me and when I used to miss the goal they were still singing. That's why I was still happy even when I was not scoring. In Italy, if you miss a goal, even if you are Batistuta or Bierhoff, they want to kill you. Here, they sing my name and I hope they'll do it next season and then the season after that as well."

記： Is it true that the other players helped you out?

亨： "Yes, all the players helped me because they knew I had some qualities. They were tough with me because they wanted to show me the way of the Premiership. It was difficult when I first came to England because there was some tough contact in games and I wasn't prepared for it. It was good for me though because I had to improve, the only way I had to learn was to keep the ball despite all the contact."

記： Was there one moment when it all started to go right?

亨： "The day it happened was against Derby at home We were losing 1-0 and I scored twice and they were goals like a proper striker. I remember Marc Overmars set me up twice. He gave me the first ball and I scored with my left and then there was a good run. I had confidence and felt a striker again."

記： How much of the improvement do you think was down to settling in London properly?

亨： "It's never easy when you have to arrive in a new country as we have seen with Nicolas Anelka. When he arrived in Madrid he had to play well because the £23 million fee. At the beginning it's always difficult because you miss your friends, your family, all the things you used to do at home. Now I enjoy the life. I have a house and all my friends can now come over and see me so it's much better."

記： After Euro 2000, do you feel under pressure as Arsenal's main striker?

亨： "Not really. I prefer to be in that position than sitting on the bench. Sometimes it's strange because you have players who can't seem to manage and can't accept the pressure. But it doesn't mean I'm going to sore all the time. I like to be under pressure, it's good when you go to shoot or take a penalty, it makes me play better."

記： So when the next season kicks off, what are your aims going to be with Arsenal?

亨： "Right now I need to have a good rest and then I really want to win something with the Arsenal next season. I signed for them to win some trophies and I was so disappointed with the end of the season for Arsenal because we finished far behind Manchester United and then we lost the UEFA Cup Final too. Next Season I want to make up for it. But for now I am happy to have won the European Championships with France."