In a game that was begging for a special moment, Thierry Henry stepped up to the task to resume his duties as Arsenal's king.
Ten minutes after making his return to the field as a substitute for Arsenal, Henry delivered a game-winning goal to lift the Gunners in the fourth round of the FA Cup via a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in front of a delirious crowd at Emirates Stadium on Monday.
Henry, Arsenal's all-time leading goal scorer, came on as a 68th-minute substitute, entering a match that lacked excitement and action on either end. In a matter of minutes and with one right-footed kick, he changed that. The New York Red Bulls Designated Player snuck behind the defense to receive a pass from Alex Song, settled and touched a classy shot inside the far post to cap a dream return and kick off his two-month loan in style.
Videos of Henry's goal and his emotional introduction into the game are after the jump:
So do his goals add on to his scoring record?
Nice finish but the RB is an 18 year old midfielder playing out of position and fell asleep a bit, as did the LB to keep him on-sides.
I hope Leeds loans for Eric Lichaj again. It would be nice to see him getting steady playing time at LB.
Good point and I was thinking the same thing since i only watch the last 40 minutes. After watching the full highlights, Arsenal had about 6 clear cut scoring chances and couldn’t finish. Henry’s finish was clinical, that’s the difference.
What does that have to do with anything?? Majority of goals come from some kind of mistake like that…a nostalgic moment from TH14/12, signature classy finish.
The following comment is meant to be read in a movie promo voice….
In a world where Arsenal teeters on the brink of mediocrity, one man, with one desire, (now in a Swarzinegger voice) “Come on! Pass me ze ball!, Do it, Do it now!!!” GOAL!!. (back to promo voice) This winter, Henry is back at the Emirates and he’s taking no prisoners.
So it’s two MLS DPs against each other in the next round possibly??? Keane vs Henry… Villa vs Gunners.
I am guessing we will read an article in an English rag soon that Beckham wants to play a few at Old Trafford while the MLS is on break. He sure seemed to be enjoying Henry’s moment. While the emotions are running high quick MLS sell them both back to their old EPL clubs for 50 million pounds each
Why wouldn’t they? Do you think they would go in the books as a goal for NYRB?
VERY GOOD, Jim.
It’s somehow comforting that sometimes British announcers keep talking over what would be a great moment without them talking. (Well, still is, but it is somewhat distracting.)
And he punished them for it, like a great goal scoer does.
hell yeah
I know this comment is completely missing the point, but I really do want to hear what others think that actually got to watch this goal live…
Was he on-sides? It looked very close
If you pause it on the pass it looks like he is tied with the last defender. The left back was keeping him on.
Never for a second doubted he was onsides when I was watching…
None of the Leeds defenders raised their hands so they apparently didn’t think he was was offside. They probably saw that their coworker on the other side of the pitch drifted inside the penalty area and kept him onside.
Too bad for Arsenal that MLS is a retirement league.
I think his point is that Henry could never score like this against a real defense like he’d face in MLS.
maybe Wenger should stop going after youth players and get 30 something year olds and maybe he can win something again, finally.
Well put.
It is great for MLS when current players, whether Euro veteran stars like Henry, Beckham, and Keane, or US stars like Landon, show they can run – and score – in Euro competitions.
Then more talent will move in both directions.
It goes into goal purgatory.
It’s why he was onsides and allowed the space to run free. Everyone was getting worked up about Arsenal’s defensive injuries, just sharing that Leeds weren’t exactly playing their best XI either. We need another fullback in, such as Lichaj, in the worst way.
That’s why nobody talked about it T_T
I think the goal stays in eternal limbo
is it coming to theaters in Ireland?
no they get trapped inside his beard along with the boys who got kicked of of Menudo.
Amen to that. Let’s hope for great loans for all the MLS players!
I was much happier for Henry than I thought I’d be. As a Red Bull fan I’ll worry until he comes back, and am not at all confident he’ll come back when he’s supposed to.
Now if he brings someone back with him…
wow!
Great calm finish from Henry. A couple of Barcelona players missed similar chances recently because they kept one eye on the linesman. From my ESPN replay it looks like the LB kept Henry on side.
Ricky Martin?! NOOOO…
The commentators kept noting that was Henry’s 11th goal against Leeds; makes me believe that yes, it the goal does add to his record.
I think that’s great exposure for MLS right there. Henry, an MLS player scoring a gaol in his first game back for a major club and his buddy Beckham (MLS player and still most recognizable face in the game) cheering him on. Toss in Donovan and Keane and barring injury, how could the MLS and we as fans not be excited about the added exposure and respect for our league?
+1000
At least your not a Galaxy fan. Three loaned out and one already injured. Here’s a great big KNOCK ON WOOD for Henry, Donovan and a preemptive knock for Keano.
Well put.
Thanks…that’s what I suspected. He certainly celebrated like it was going to be another one for the books.
Henry is certainly not match fit, but his class was evident … the finish and his subtle run behind the defense. Also, this is the 1st time all season that I saw an Arsenal striker stretch the defense with a ball over the top. That is something that he can add to the attack that has been sorely lacking. Chamakh has to go. An unfit 34 yr old Henry was 10x more dangerous and savvy in his 25 mins than Chamakh was over 65 mins.
He wasn’t onside.
Watching it, I thought he was offside, because Song waited too long to make the pass. With the internet, I can pause it and see the left back is keeping him on.
Wow, it actually worked… had the voice in my head in everything…. hahaha
Yes, he was. Look at the Leeds LB
I hope by Euro you mean England, Spain etc and not the lower ones like San Marino. I swear an American is going to sign with a team in San Marino and people will be like “that is a good move because it is in Europe”
as long as Timmy Chandler doesn’t take out his ACL, he’ll be OK
Tie goes to the attacking player. Tie plus a foot offside goes to the sentimental favorite.
Snarky Sniggers ensue…
If the player is offered twice the amount he can “legally” earn in MLS then yes. Real growth and development takes time. The sooner you folks understand that the sooner you’ll make comment like Warren and sound less the the Napoleon complex suffering whiners that you are…
yeah, you’re so cool all you’ve got is bitter tone while we enjoy an MLS dignity earning moment
wow, you’re cool
+1
I thought he was off at full speed. But I stopped the video – ball was clearly off the passers foot and Henry was clearly onside (left back kept him on) – they weren’t even, LB was clearly behind Henry.
This just proves what a real finisher can do. I hope that Henry can teach some young American kids how to finish like that.
Unfit, slower, and just back from holiday, yet Henry clinically finishes from the same spot that Arshavin shoots into the net.
It wasn’t even a tie. I was able to pause it just as the ball was off of the passers foot. Henry was outside the box, last defender was inside. The defense rests.
see Omar Gonzalez
Leed NY to a title and then I will be impressed…bigger challenge
There’s a way to enjoy the moment with class. If you’re you’re annoyed by my tone that’s your problem. And wanting MLS players to be paid more across the board doesn’t make me bitter, it actually makes me really want up see the league continue to grow and succed.