BLACKBURN goal-ace Matt Jansen has admitted he's a fully paid-up member of the Thierry Henry fan-club as Arsenal prepare to descend on Ewood tonight.

Jansen knows all about the business of scoring goals in the Premiership after carrying the fight for Rovers this season.

So he can appreciate more than anyone exactly what it takes to be considered as the top gun in what is arguably the toughest league in the world.

"Henry's been tremendous for Arsenal all season," said Jansen of the Gunners' 17-goal top-scorer.

"I was talking to an Arsenal fan the other day who was saying he still get sticks off some of their fans but I don't believe that for a second.

"I know some people accuse him of not being in the box enough but if he did, then he'd probably get 50 a season.

"So, as far as I'm concerned, he's a quality striker and he's not just a goalscorer, he's a creator as well because he's tremendous on the ball.

"He's strong, he's quick and he's good in the air so he's the complete player, in many respects, and I'd put him and Michael Owen up there on their own."

Those thoughts were also echoed by Blackburn boss Graeme Souness who believes the classy Frenchman is currently out on his own as the best striker in English football.

"Thierry Henry is the top man around. He's the number one, as far as I'm concerned," said Souness.

"It's just his all-round play. How do you stop him?

"The fact I put him ahead of Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Michael Owen says it all because you'd have any of those any day of the week.

"He's got 25 goals already this season and it's hard to argue with statistics like that.

"So Nisa and Tiny face a massive test tonight because they'll be up against the best striker around."

But, while Henry currently blazes a trail at the top of the Premiership scoring charts, Jansen and former Arsenal hitman Andy Cole are currently forging a deadly partnership all of their own.

Cole has already scored four times in six games since his club-record move from Manchester United a month ago.

And Jansen has benefited more than anyone from his arrival after working closely with the England man in special training sessions under the supervision of striker-coach Dean Saunders.

"Andy's been brilliant since he came here," said Jansen.

"He's a proven goalscorer and a quality player and he's managed to help my game no end.

"We've done a bit of finishing with Dean Saunders in a bid to try and get an understanding going and it seems to be working.

"So I'm learning plenty off him because he's got that bit more experience than me.

"And, though it's still early days as yet, the signs are good."

Recent back-to-back Cup victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley have given everyone a lift following a disastrous December which saw Rovers get sucked into the relegation quagmire. But, while they continue to go from strength-to-strength in the knockout competitions, their league form remains a worry.

And Jansen insists it's now time to address the situation by putting some points on the board.

"It's nice that we're in the final of a Cup and it does give you that bit of extra confidence," said Jansen.

"But we are in a sticky situation in the league and we need to get out of it.

"The Premiership is where we all want to play next year so that's got to be our priority and we can't lose sight of that."