When you see an image of Thierry Henry you probably think of Arsenal, goals and effortless speed unless you’re from Ireland of course. Apart from the ‘Hand of Gaul’ episode, the most Gallic of Frenchmen won every trophy in football and did so in a style and flourish that was both captivating and inspiring, On this day 15 years ago the winger, who had endured a nightmare in Italian football with Juventus, signed for Arsenal and a legend was born.
Here are his five best goals for Arsenal…
Sparta Prague 2005: The season had been a mixed one for both Arsenal and its captain. Henry had been in and out of the team due to niggling injuries courtesy of ‘your-getting-old-mate-itis’. Likewise Arsenal were playing dismally in the league but had found the Champions League strangely alluring, performing with class and commitment in equal measure. Henry was back for the away game against Prague In this game Henry would break the record for most goals scored for the Gunners but it was his record equalling effort which was the standout…
www.youtube.com/embed/N9-ty0fgT-I
Manchester United 2000: Back in the days when Manchester City was fighting to stay in Division Two, Arsenal and United were battling it out for the supremacy of English football. There was no love lost between the two sides with managers Wenger and Ferguson setting the tone with their intense personal rivalry. The matches between the two well-matched powerhouses of the Premier League were usually tight affairs full of high quality and bone-shaking physicality. Space on the pitch was at a premium and the goal that settled the affair was of such daring and inventiveness that only one player could have scored it…
www.youtube.com/embed/LPgAm0tN3k8
Real Madrid 2006: Real Madrid had never lost to English opposition the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and were hot favourites to dismiss an inconsistent Arsenal side. With the likes of the [Real] Ronaldo, Beckham, Zidane and er… Thomas Gravesen in their line-up, Madrid were supposedly ready to put Arsenal to the sword. Henry had other ideas and inspired his team to their best performance of the season. In the second half of a game in which Arsenal were to quick and motivated for their regal hosts, the talismanic Frenchman collected the ball near the half-way line with one thought in mind…
Liverpool 2002: Arsenal were having a terrible week. First they lost in a FA Cup semi-final to Man Utd. Then a few days later they got knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea. Now, a league fixture against Liverpool would ‘make or break’ their season. On a hot afternoon in North London it would be Henry who dragged the Gunners back in the game by the sheer strength of his willpower after they had walked into the dressing room at half-time 2-1 down. He scored a hattrick that day but it was his third goal that will be remembered most vividly, especially by former Liverpool defender and present day Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher. Apparently he still gets dizzy just watching it…
www.youtube.com/embed/REqjIGZ8f4E
Tottenham 2002: A goal that will never be forgotten for those privileged enough to be there in person for both good and bad reasons. The best of enemies, in the form of Arsenal and Spurs, were meeting for the 120th time in this league encounter on 10 February 2001. It’s a strange quirk that the very Gallic Henry, seemed to understand the mutual enmity with the North London between the two clubs perfectly. His response to scoring this goal is legendary. To Arsenal fans it is likened to a triptych art ensemble. The run, the finish and the celebration… C’est magnique!
