Thierry Henry - Arsenals Best Ever?

So where do i start. Thierry Henry was one of the most iconic figures to ever grace Highbury and later on The Emirates. He turned up at Arsenal as a gangly left winger who although had a World Cup winners medal to his name had flopped in Serie A with Italian giants Juventus. One man who had faith in him was the legendary Arsene Wenger, Mr Wenger had previously coached the youngster at french club Monaco and felt that he may be able to produce something special with the French youngster. There have been many greats before him but he really takes the cake when it comes to the very best to ever pull on the red of the mighty Gunners.

When Thierry first joined the ranks at Arsenal it took him a while to adjust to the speed and physical nature of the premier league. He didn't score in his first 8 games as an Arsenal player and serious doubts were being brought up about his ability to perform at this level. His price tag of 11 million was something we all know now was an absolute bargain but at the time the fans were wondering if it was money well spent.

In his first season he went on to score 17 in all competitions and quashed all the criticism that was coming his way. Throughout his Arsenal career, every single season Henry played in he scored into double figures, this fantastic feat also included 4 seasons of the being the Premier Leagues top scorer.

In Thierry's second season at the club he really started to develop himself as a striker and people started to take notice of the Frenchman. There was always that look of complete calm eased across his face as he took on competitors left right and centre. He was the only player who would pass the ball to himself, one moment that sticks in my mind was when he up against Jamie Carragher of Liverpool and with no options around him knocks it past him somehow gets there before the defender cuts it back and finishes with ease! I wont go into to many Henry moment as i will be here forever.

His first league title with the Arsenal came in the 2000/2001 season when Arsenal finished 7 point clear of their rivals Manchester United, That year Henry topped the scoring charts with a whopping 26 goals. The same year Arsenal won the FA cup so they claimed the illustrious league and cup double a second under Arsene Wenger but a first for Thierry Henry. The season after that saw more cup success as Arsenal were to strong for a plucky Southampton side.

Arsenal weren't quite able to regain their premiership crown narrowly missing out to Manchester United by 5 points. Mixed results in the final few games of the season cost arenal back to back premierships.

But Arsenal and Henry didn't have to wait long for their next one....

2003/2004 was the year when Thierry Henry and Arsenal went through a whole Premier League season without losing a single game. Thierry played a huge part in this and once more grabbed the golden boot with a fantastic 30 goals in the league. The way Arsenal were playing was now being seen as some of the best football ever displayed. It was the little flicks of elegance from Henry, the touch, the pass, the flow of the game. That year Henry could have had every shot from the halfway line and you would still fancy his chances of scoring.

Arsenal haven't won the league since that year, a memory that will forever last throughout time though. The next season saw the emergence of Chelsea backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. But the season after that came the Champions league run that stopped a nation as we all watched on to see what Henry would do next. Arsenal went on to win the F.A cup in a game which was decided with penalty kicks. Henry was injured but still received a winners medal for his efforts in earlier rounds.So Henry was now captain of a young group of players, many fans didn't see him as captain material feeling that he had only been given the armband in persuasion to stay at the club.

But the 2005/2006 champions league saw Henry pull off some of the greatest moments of his career. We all remember the goal against Real Madrid (If not see below) when Arsenal became the first English team to beat Real at the Bernabau ever. He put on some heroic performance against Juventus and Villarreal in the knock stages showing real character and leadership throughout. But it was a group stage match that marked the moment when Thierry Henry became the top scorer of all time for Arsenal when he scored two in the game against Sparta Prague. The record which was previously held by Ian Wright was equaled and then taken over in the group stage victory as Henry placed his name in the history books of Arsenal football club.

Although the run the final was a great one and also the first time in Arsenal history to reach the Champions League final, it ultimately ended in defeat for Arsenal. The game was marred with controversy with Jens Lehmann being sent off early on, Emmanuel Eboue supposedly diving to win the free kick which Arsenal scored from. 10 Men Arsenal held on as long as they could but rampant Barcelona scored 2 goals within the last 15 minutes which cost Arsenal their first Champions League trophy.

The 2005/2006 season was majorly effected by Arsenal's Champions League run and saw a massive dip in form from previous seasons. It boiled down to the last day of the season whether Arsenal would make the top four or not. The other team that was challenging for the illustrious 4th Champions League place was Tottenham Hotspur our North London rival. The last day of the season was already filled with controversy before the games had even kicked off.

With Tottenham Scheduled to play West Ham and Arsenal to play Wigan there were complaints of the Tottenham players food being poisoned at a hotel they were staying at the night prior to the match. If Spurs won their game they would of had the 4th place. But with the final game of the season and final game at Highbury it was only fitting that an Henry ha-trick would seal a 4-2 win over Wigan whilst Tottenham were upset by West Ham losing 2-1.

There was many rumours with Arsenal's faltering form that Henry would leave the club that summer but Henry declared he would stay on to promote The Emirates and play the debut season in Arsenals new stadium. Again the flat-line Arsenal seemed a shadow of the team that went 49 games unbeaten a feat achieved by non other. They once again finished 4th in the inaugural season at The Emirates with no trophy to their name.

The stadiums, so close but the memories of the two places are going to be ever so different....

There was to be no more Henry for Arsenal he had decided after 8 fantastic years to give the Spanish League a try with Barcelona FC. He left Arsenal being our leading goal scorer of all time with 174 in the league and 42 in Europe. He will be forever in every Arsenal fans hearts, he blessed us with his magic for 8 great years and helped turn Arsneal into one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

He has returned twice as a Barcelona and a New York Red Bulls players to the Emirates and both times i have never heard a home crowd shout so loud for an opposing player.

Arsenal fans all around the world will never forget what he has done for us and we will be eternally grateful for what he did for the club.

Thierry Henry - World Cup Winner, Euro Championship Winner, Premier League Winner, F.A Cup Winner, La Liga Winner, Champions League Winner and many many more!

Thierry Henry - World Beater