You’re once, twice, 227 times amazing. And I looooove yoouuuu.
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds Utd (Henry, 78′)
I left the stadium last night with a massive grin on my face, thinking “Wow, I’ve just seen my all-time favourite player score for the club of my life in his first appearance back here.” It was brilliant.
I got home, watched it back again, talked to some people, had some tea, and went to bed. Five minutes later I sat up and burst into tears. It was only a 1-0 win. It was only an FA Cup match. It was not against a huge current rival. It didn’t win us a trophy. But remove rivalries, competitions and allegiances for a second and think about what happened yesterday.
One of the greatest players to have ever worn our glorious crest returned to the Club that he loves. He returned slightly older, slightly slower and slightly hairier of chin. He also returned as a fan. Thierry Henry is a swaggering, confident, beautiful superstar of a man in my unbiased and accurate opinion, and yesterday’s goal celebration was one of the best I have ever seen. In a world of bought loyalties (THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE), no number of superyachts in Formentera or penthouses in Monaco could have bought that emotion.
Listen to this. John Motson’s description of it sounds made up, like one of those comic strips in the Mirror. Seventy-eight flaming minutes it took us. Twelve minutes it took him. This is not to take anything from the exceptional pass put in by Song. Nor is it to take anything from the fact we had loads of possession and opportunities and no end product. Which is another issue for another day. But though I’m not really a fan of all that ‘written in the stars’ nonsense, it really wasn’t ever going to be anyone else, was it? I mean, half because no one else could finish, but half also because last night, Thierry Henry was going to be Thierry Henry and no one was going to stop Thierry Henry from doing so.
It was such a Thierry finish too. Pre-match, when everyone was discussing how great it would be to see him bag the winner, I plodded quietly along, thinking “It’s not going to happen, but it will still be nice to see him”. As people scrabbled around for tickets, I thought “Oh man, I really hope he gets on the pitch after all these shenanigans”. I don’t know why I worried, really. The scriptwriter has been an utter bastard to us in recent times. It was about time he got drunk and kindly, and decided to give us a happy chapter for a change.
So, as I was saying: the celebration. The run to Wenger was reminiscent of Robin last year and Cesc in 2008. Cesc’s heart may have sadly been previously violated by another lot in another city far away thus rendering his continued undivided attention to us impossible, but he still knew that Wenger was the one he had to run to. Ditto Robin last year. And so did Thierry. His beloved Highbury may now be gone, but the man that brought him to Arsenal in the first place is still here and thank God for that.
As he made his really uncool and unpracticed run toward the boss after his goal, his team mates bounced off him one by one. They wanted in on the action, but also looked a little scared to get involved. Even Woj ran up from his box to have a feel. I think what I loved the most about yesterday though was that Thierry actually seemed slightly surprised that he’d scored. As the coolest customer the world has ever seen, it would have been great to have seen one of his ‘Bov’d!’ celebrations – but to see him all wide-eyed and roary was a million times better.
Believe it or not, there were other players out there last night. Nico Yennaris, replacing the twanged Francis Coquelin (who’s also just signed a new deal- get in!) was brilliantly speedy yesterday. He wasn’t tested a lot, but what he showed was good. Captain Mikel Arteta was his usual reliable self, Ramsey had a great match and Miquel also looks brighter by the day. That said, it was not a great match in all. Before Mr. Henry arrived on the scene, I’m pretty sure it was going to a replay. In fact, given the two late saves Szczesny made, it could have been even worse than just a trek up north for an extra match.
Nevertheless, we’ve progressed to the next round, for Aston Villa at home. It was Henry what did it. Suddenly I’m 15 again. And that’s what brought on the tears. Most of the time eternal optimism does nothing for you but make you very, very resilient. But occasionally, the fairy tale dream does come true and does allow Little Miss Hopeful to continue to believe in magic. The King is back. He may only be here in a playing capacity for six more weeks, but in reality, Thierry Henry is with the Arsenal for keeps.
~ ~ ~
My three favourite images from last night. One, Two, Three. (All courtesy of various Tumblettes. Get on the Thierry tag right now. It’s a beautiful place).
Damien
145 days ago
Football rules. I don’t think anyone really cared about progressing to the 4th round last night.
Sian
142 days ago
Nope!
Daniel
145 days ago
How many times am I gonna come on here and tell you how well you summed up the emotion and feeling of a game before it becomes as obvious as…well, as obvious as the fact Henry was going to score that chance in the manner he did.
I made this little bit of amateur-ness earlier http://instagr.am/p/f_Q4U/ but it matches something you were talking about so I’m going to promote it…
I can’t tell you how happy I am that I was at that game to witness that. I feel so privileged, it was honestly one of the single greatest feelings of my life. I don’t care if it wasn’t a tournament winner or even against a team in the same league as us… it was pure unadulterated magic. It was a real life fairytale and when you say “Thierry actually seemed slightly surprised that he’d scored” it makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck like they were last night. My head felt like it was going to tingle itself off my shoulders. I was leaping up and down so high I wondered why I never managed a slam dunk in PE.
It’s because of fans like you that Thierry loves this club so much, Sian. You’ll need plenty more tissues in the years to come.
Sian
142 days ago
Oh, D the M from J that Instagram link made me weep a little. AW is like a dad, no exag’. And he’s like a dad to my dad, so he’s even dadder to me!
*favourites comment*
*if there was a way in which I could do this*
El Greco
145 days ago
Thanks for the words, Sian – I felt 15 years old, too.
As for those bitter, twisted script writers, they simply didn’t have the vision…or the balls. That is, the vision to write about the 2nd coming of the king, and that sometimes football fans need a moment in time, to look back and say I was there, and I cried, and I will take the moment to my grave.
No, your regular script writers have been too cynical of late.
They were brushed aside by the script writer Gods of the beautiful game – only they understand the power of a beautiful script. And last night they delivered!
adam t
145 days ago
Wow what a feeling. Actually brought a tear to my eye when he scored. LEGEND
Sian
142 days ago
Me too!
1NilToTheArsenal
144 days ago
Hi Sian,
I’ll save you the usual boring (but always well deserved) accolades and first thank you for the Tumblr links – nice!
It’s amazing how those once-in-a-generation athletes always ooze class and lift the teams around them. He’s old, he’s slow, he was totally gassed at the end of the match (though his conditioning is bound to improve), he’s as temperamental as ever apparently, but he’s still better at what he does best than almost anybody else around him.
Another spectacular pass from Song (remember the van Persie wonder goal v. Everton?), followed by the most of technical of finishes from a pure striker. Pure class. A man born do to this like no other. Absolutely clinical. Absolutely great.
Sian
142 days ago
Ha ha, I love temperamental Thierry! OK, I used to not, but it makes me laugh now. What an absolute god.
The Waffle Mafia
144 days ago
Reading this made me giddy all over again. Yesterday felt like one of those days where it could snow, I could have a flat tire, with no phone reception, but it would all be okay because Thierry Henry was back with the good guys and had scored another brilliant goal.
I wore my maroon Henry kit all day yesterday and, even though it was now dirty and no longer smelled the best, I considered wearing it again today simply out of excitement and happiness. And damn everyone who questioned me for doing so.
Sian
142 days ago
It was brilliant, wasn’t it? And a moment that gets more brilliant the further away it gets. The brilliantest kind of brilliant moments!
Alex
144 days ago
I was unlucky enough to have never visited Highbury. (Walking on the ground where it once stood causes goosebumps for me)
(Nothing was stopping me watching this game!)
I was unlucky enough not to have been at this game (Exams the rest of this week)
But I was lucky enough to see Thierry score that goal
I love The King of Highbury Thierry Henry for all he does for the club, for his own deep love of the club, I love the mighty Arsenal, long may they both reign.
Sian
142 days ago
Hear hear! And I’m glad you finally decided to join the great ship HMS Twitter.
Alex
142 days ago
May she never sink
UncleK
143 days ago
C’est magnifique [Blog and goal]
Sian
142 days ago
Merci mon oncle!
I did Spanish at school.
1NilToTheArsenal
142 days ago
Hey Sian & Everyone,
If you haven;t seen this yet, it’s definitely worth a read:
Martin Keown on Titi:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2084847/Martin-Keown-Thierry-Henry-proved-dreams-come-true.html
irishgray
142 days ago
Sian – I fully agree with everything you said!! The man is a legend and his legend is still growing. Theo must think he has died and gone to heaven now that he is playing with his idol again. Maybe henry will inspire him to raise his own game and hopefully that of others on the team. I was grinning like an idiot all day Tuesday in work which really pissed off the Spuds fan I was working with!