This ‘just-a-3rd-round-Cup-tie’ was overshadowed by one man. Though he had not made it to the starting eleven for Arsenal, he was named as a substitute. He still managed to fill the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium. So much so, that everyone showed up at the Emirates, be it club loyalists like Jack Wilshere, the club traitors like Samir Nasri, the club legends like Patrick Vieira and the club’s one-time rival in the form of David Beckham, everyone were present. Such was the excitement and anticipation of Thierry Henry’s second debut in an Arsenal shirt. The other events were dwarfed by ‘Titi12’ (as he is commonly known now) and his return.
The love affair between Henry & Arsenal dates back to 1999, when he joined the Gunners from Juventus. From that day onwards, fortunes changed, for Arsenal, and for Thierry Henry. Under manager Arsene Wenger’s tutelage, Henry not only became one of the most feared strikers around, he won the captain’s armband and with that several accolades and trophies, including the most cherished 2003-2004 season’s League title, where Wenger’s men romped through the whole season of 38 games without losing a single match – a feat still not achieved by any other club in top-flight English football, deservedly earning Arsenal the tag of ‘The Invincibles’. Henry became the club’s leading all-time goal scorer during his 8-year stint at Arsenal, tormenting defences and scoring at will with his partner-in-crime Dennis Bergkamp.
Henry achieved God-like status, and became Arsenal’s very own son. He was the focal point of Arsenal’s engine. He was the heart of the Club. He was the ammunition of Arsenal’s arsenal. To show him love and respect, a statue of him was recently unveiled right outside the Emirates Stadium.
After that golden period, it was time to move on. Time to part ways. Henry bid a teary-eyed farewell to the North-London club, before plying his trade in Spain with Barcelona in 2007, and then later with New York Red Bulls in the United States. But some things never die. Arsenal fans never forgot their hero, never lost their love for Thierry. He was always welcome home. And he did come home whenever he could, just like the November of 2011. He had finished the season in USA, and returned to Arsenal to maintain his fitness levels. He trained with the current Arsenal squad, and seeing him play, analysing his movement and passes and vision, it left a lot to be learnt by the current crop of players at Arsenal. Looked like Thierry had still got it, even at the age of 34.
Wenger too was impressed. There were faint cries from the media and pundits of bringing Henry back to Arsenal. No one had imagined that it would actually materialize.
But, soon after, Thierry Henry was back in Arsenal colors! He had signed a short-term loan deal with the Gunners, with an intention to assist in the striking department which was short on personnel for the time-being. His debut, well in this case, his second debut was against Leeds United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Thus, was the anticipation and excitement surrounding ‘just-a-3rd-round-Cup-match’.
Henry was on the bench for the game when the game kicked-off, with more attention on Henry than on the Arsenal versus Leeds match. That was shown by Henry being captured more than the match by the TV Broadcaster’s camera lens. The first-half ended 0-0 with Arsenal lacking the spark with which they usually play. Arsenal did not look like Arsenal, they looked out of sorts.
Second half kicked off, with Henry still on the bench. Now the nervy moments started and people started singing Henry’s name, showing how much they longed to see him play in front of them again. Wenger listened to their cries. Henry got off the bench and started warming-up, the usual stretches and limbering up were backed up with a huge cheer from the Arsenal faithful. Not only Emirates Stadium, not only London, not only England, but the whole world were either on their feet, or glued to the television, or chanting Thierry Henry’s name. I, personally, was doing all 3 of them.
65th minute of the match, and the ball went out of play and the announcer announced ‘Arsenal substitution. Number 29, Marouane Chamakh for Number 12, Thierry Henry.’ This was one of those moments of football which are recorded and played again and again on various sports shows and on YouTube – A newer version of the old-phrase ‘A Kodak moment’.
On he came, followed by a ear-splitting cheer from the entire gigantic Emirates Stadium, and from my living room. He was back! His influence completely changed the match. Arsenal had a swagger about them when they played from there on. They started playing the Arsenal way, which is a brand of playing football in itself. This was the best night ever, couldn’t get any better. Or could it..?
Arsenal were playing great attractive football, but couldn’t get through and score past a stubborn Leeds defence, who were hell-bent on spoiling Arsenal’s night and causing an upset. But it wasn’t meant to be. Arsenal attacked, Alex Song with the ball, surrounded by Leeds’ players. He saw Henry in space, Song managed to slide a pass through the defence, finding Henry. He was in a great scoring position, and I, along with the entire world, got up from out seats slowly. Thierry Henry took one touch, controlled the ball, got his feet around the ball and guided it in the bottom corner into the goal, scoring in style. In Thierry Henry’s style. It was written in the stars. He HAD TO score.
This was one of those moments where you go through a mixed bag, or a concoction, of emotions. You get goose bumps, you jump from your seat, you cry in joy while filled with emotions. I know this as it happened to me.
That moment had taken us back years to when Henry was still with us. When Thierry Henry was Thierry Henry. It was like he never left. It was a night where everything went right. He joined Arsenal again, he came off the bench, and scored the winner. It was like a scene out of a fairy tale book.
Arsenal were playing great attractive football, but couldn’t get through and score past a stubborn Leeds defence, who were hell-bent on spoiling Arsenal’s night and causing an upset. But it wasn’t meant to be. Arsenal attacked, Alex Song with the ball, surrounded by Leeds’ players. He saw Henry in space, Song managed to slide a pass through the defence, finding Henry. He was in a great scoring position, and I, along with the entire world, got up from out seats slowly. Thierry Henry took one touch, controlled the ball, got his feet around the ball and guided it in the bottom corner into the goal, scoring in style. In Thierry Henry’s style. It was written in the stars. He HAD TO score.
This was one of those moments where you go through a mixed bag, or a concoction, of emotions. You get goose bumps, you jump from your seat, you cry in joy while filled with emotions. I know this as it happened to me.
That moment had taken us back years to when Henry was still with us. When Thierry Henry was Thierry Henry. It was like he never left. It was a night where everything went right. He joined Arsenal again, he came off the bench, and scored the winner. It was like a scene out of a fairy tale book.
His love showed in his celebration, he thumped the Arsenal logo on his shirt and ran towards and hugged his mentor, Arsene Wenger feeling ecstatic. Arsenal won the match, courtesy Henry’s goal. It was a memorable night for all Arsenal fans around the globe, with Arsenal chanting their age-old adage ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’.
This was, perhaps a sign of good times lying ahead for us. We have deserved it. And good times will come, because we have Thierry Henry.
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