Tonight's the night.

The Champions League Final. The Stade de France, Paris, 77,000 screaming fans creating an electric atmosphere in a footballing hotbed.

It's a night that is tailor-made for Thierry Henry.

The Arsenal superstar will lead his men out to battle on home turf, knowing that by the end of it he may just crown himself the 'King of Paris.'

And if anyone can do that, it's Henry.

He is currently regarded as the Lord of North London, the hero of Highbury. Now he has the opportunity to take on an even bigger persona.

But another man is ready to take on the Gunners' striker - Ronaldinho.

While many will be watching this particular aspect of the game with great interest, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to play down the notion of Henry v Ronaldinho spectacular.

He said: "First it is Arsenal against Barcelona and not Thierry Henry against Ronaldinho.

"It is very important to keep that priority in our minds. Like every big player he (Henry) will be under a lot of pressure. But if the team play well, Thierry will play well."

When he is on top of his game, Henry is the best striker in the world

Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes has revealed what it is like to play against Thierry Henry and Arsenal in full flow.

Hughes was in the Aston Villa side earlier this season when the Gunners romped to a stunning 5-0 victory in a Premiership fixture at Highbury.

Henry was at his most majestic scoring goals and creating havoc.

Hughes believes that if the Arsenal skipper hits his peak in tonight's final that even the giants of Barcelona won't be able to live with him.

"When he is on top of his game, Henry is the best striker in the world. He has so much pace, it is frightening for defenders and he also makes the really difficult things look easy," says Hughes.

"In that 5-0 game he was just awesome. When he plays like that it is impossible to stop him, no matter who you are.

"That day Arsenal were at their best and they virtually made the game into a five-a-side match.

"I don't think their goalkeeper Jens Lehmann kicked the ball out once.

"He rolled it out to a defender and then they started from there. When they got their passing going, we couldn't get near them. They were very impressive in that match."

Henry's final flourish

Now is the time for Thierry to play the game of his life

There was a time when Thierry Henry was criticised for under-performing on the big occasion.

He can hardly be accused of that now, but if he wants to explode the myth, once and for all, tonight in the imposing Stade de France is the perfect time and place to do it.

Champions League final. Paris. Arsenal v Barcelona.

In club terms it really doesn't get much bigger or more exciting than that.

Henry, of course, scored the goal that overcame Barca's fierce rivals Real Madrid earlier in the competition.

Many Nou Camp members cheered that fabulous strike claiming it was effectively the first goal he had scored for them, adding that it would not be the last.

One of the most debated facets to this game is the notion that Henry will be playing for his current club against his next one.

He may stay, he may go.

Much more important than Henry's future though is his present.

Somehow you can't imagine the Gunners winning unless he flourishes in the final.

He has the speed, the skill and as captain the will to play the game of his life and torture Carles Puyol and his Barcelona team-mates at the back.

At 28, this will be his first Champions League final.

And even though he would like to think there will be more, sometimes it doesn't work out like that.

Better make the most of it then Thierry. Turn on the style. Turn up the heat. And thrill us all. This is your moment.

Henry's friend and enemy for the night Ronaldinho will of course feel the same way.

This is not just a final to decide the Kings of Europe.

This contest will tell us who the best player on the planet is with the World Cup approaching.

Henry will look to Cesc Fabregas and Aleskander Hleb to provide silver service for his golden feet. And keep an eye on Freddie Ljungberg's runs from deep which I feel could prove crucial to any Arsenal success.

For Barcelona the brilliant Deco, Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Guily are key figures alongside the Brazilian maestro.

In between taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower, as each hour passes here the concern about the quality of opposition among Arsenal fans is being replaced by confidence in what their team can do and especially that man Henry.

Big matches are made for big players.

Before his epic display in Cardiff on Saturday, Steven Gerrard proved that point in Istanbul one year ago when leading Liverpool to Champions League glory.

Now Henry must do the same.

Like last year's classic extra-time and a penalty shoot-out is a possibility.

If that is the case you would fancy the Gunners with German Jens Lehmann in goal.

But it may not go that far.

Should Arsene Wenger's men win, it would be fitting if it were '1-0 to the Arsenal' with a thunderbolt from Thierry.

Gunners fans, though, may just end up disappointed, with the royalty of Barcelona proving too much, even for King Henry.