France international Henry, whose 29 goals in 33 appearances have driven the Gunners to the Premiership summit, was clear favourite to win the main award ahead of fellow nominees Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Jay-Jay Okocha, Alan Shearer and Patrick Vieira.

The honour came just hours after Arsenal clinched the championship following a 2-2 draw at Tottenham.

Gunners captain Patrick Vieira said: “He will tell you it is a team game but he has been tremendous in the last two games when we have been a little bit tired and needed someone to do something special.”

Parker’s emergence as a player with international potential was confirmed in January when he joined Chelsea in a move from Charlton.

He is not yet a confirmed fixture in the Blues line-up but started both Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal.

Parker said: “This is very pleasing for me and it rounds off a brilliant season, although there are a couple of things that could still go my way in the summer, such as the Champions League and the European Championship.

“It has been a tough year for me but a brilliant year. It was always going to be tough leaving Charlton because I had not known anything else since the age of nine so it was always going to take a bit of time to settle in at Chelsea but I am happy with the way things are going.”

The duo featured in the PFA’s Premiership team of the year which was dominated by Arsenal players with Lauren, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Robert Pires and Vieira also named.

Henry paid tribute to his team-mates and compared Arsenal to a family.

“I am quite lucky to play in a special team. The strikers grab the headlines but I have special players around me,” he said.

“We play as a team and we are willing to fight for each other, and you need that ability.

“It’s like we are a family, willing to do things together and fight for it.”

Henry won the award ahead of Lampard, with Gerrard third.

He became only the third player to win it twice – after Mark Hughes and Alan Shearer – and the first to win it two years running.

Last year he collected the award after a 2-2 draw at Bolton had effectively ended Arsenal’s championship hopes.

“This is different to last season because I came here after we drew at Bolton, but now I can enjoy it better because we have won the league,” he said.

At one point in the season, Arsenal were on course to add the FA Cup and Champions League trophy to the title, but Henry is happy enough with the one trophy.

“Some people will say that it’s disappointing to have won only the league this season, but I can tell you I am more than happy.”

Dario Gradi, winner of the special merit award, told all up-and-coming players to use David Platt as their role model.

It was Gradi who discovered former England captain Platt after he was rejected by Manchester United, and Gradi said: “David came to me when he was 19 and stayed for three years, and he kept improving and improving.

“It shows that you are never too old to improve.”