I am a passionate Manchester United fan. What that simply means is that I have class (lol). I know I expect to get some stick from this open confession and unabashed declaration. Bring them on…lol
Back to the man, the legend, the nemesis of ManU. The man born on 17th August 1977 and named Thierry Daniel Henry was born to play football. Like every mortal being, he had his fair share of challenges, however, in the true sense of a champ, he persevered and went on to become the man world is celebrating today – the celebrated Arsenal legend is finally hanging up his boots.. 
The Brits surely know how to adopt world class talents. They have embraced Thierry to be theirs. Judging by Arsenal appreciation of the man with a statute erected in his honour.
The French press on the other hand have simple chosen to diplomatically ignore this great man. I must confess, at one point, Thierry wasn’t my favourite player, especially after his handball ‘goal’ against Ireland which helped France qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. I was miffed to say the least. Could the French be as well? Not so sure why their own son is not celebrated. Its a mystery.
Fortunately, his Irish handball wasn’t going to put me off this gifted player who played for the wrong club (lol) Arsenal. The man with the enviable record of 377 appearances, 228 goals, in his two spells at the club.
My memory of Henry was not only his Va Va Voom – speedy dash on the wings against teams, mesmerising natural and makeshift defenders along the way, it was one particular goal against Manchester United.
Mehnn, could that goal ever be erased from my memory? I very much doubt it. Arsenal went on to win it by a goal which turned out to be Henry’s volley.
Sky Sports were spot on when it was described as the ‘Crazy’ volley. It was indeed.
‘Crazy’ volley against United
Arsenal 1 Man Utd 0, October 2000
Curiously, Henry wasn’t in particularly great form going into this early season game against defending Premier League champions Manchester United. He’d failed to find the net in any of his previous six appearances for the Gunners – the longest such streak since opening his account for the club the previous year.
Henry consoles Fabien Barthez after beating him from distance at Highbury in 2000
That background only made his decision to attempt the audacious all the more remarkable. Gilles Grimandi played an innocuous-looking pass into his feet with the striker 20 yards from goal. Henry was being marked by the experienced Denis Irwin but was able to fashion enough space to flick the ball up, swivel to his left and unleash a dipping volley over Fabien Barthez.
“You can’t do anything about a goal like that,” said Sir Alex Ferguson. “I couldn’t believe it.” Highbury and Arsene Wenger could. “When you haven’t been scoring goals, sometimes you need to try something a little bit crazy,” said Wenger. It was more than four years before Henry went on a six-game scoreless streak for Arsenal again.
Check out the goal below.
Thierry, Henry, thank you for the memories. Thank God there is Youtube to back up pub arguments of how truly great you were on the football pitch.
You were a true legend.
Photographs courtesy of Google images and Youtube.
