Iconic Performances: Henry evokes Arsenal to Liverpool comeback

Arsenal achieved immortality in the course of the course of the 2003/04 season, their title-winning aspect changing into the Invincibles after finishing a complete Premier League marketing campaign with out defeat.

Ask lots of these related to the Gunners and they might not change that historic marketing campaign for the world, their rewriting of historical past offering a larger supply of delight than the European honours which have eluded the North Londoners.

Definitively deciding the Premier League’s greatest-ever workforce is troublesome, with soccer perpetually altering and conclusive comparisons between differing generations exhausting to make.

Arsenal’s unbeaten aspect maintains a singular declare to the title.

Finishing a complete season with out defeat had not been achieved in England’s prime division for over a century, not since Preston North Finish achieved the feat over 27 video games in the course of the 1888/89 marketing campaign.

Within the trendy period it had been deemed nearly unattainable, however Arsenal overcame obstacles and challenges to etch their identify in footballing folklore.

On the centre of their success was Thierry Henry.

Henry’s time with Arsenal noticed the ahead forge a fame because the Premier League’s main gentle, a quintessentially trendy ahead who modified perceptions of how the function ought to look.

Henry at his greatest had few equals, and none inside English soccer.

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He introduced panache to the Premier League, each together with his aesthetic and his outrageous potential. His trademark excessive socks, blistering tempo and unerring coolness round objective noticed him grow to be the division’s defining footballer in the course of the early a part of the century, a standing he maybe retains lengthy after his departure.

The Frenchman was essential to Arsenal’s campaign in the direction of immortality, ending because the league’s main scorer with 30 targets.

His marketing campaign included no scarcity of classic moments, however his most iconic particular person displaying got here with the Gunners’ unbeaten report in real jeopardy.

Liverpool have been the guests to Highbury within the membership’s thirty first league fixture of the season, the vacation spot of the title by then in little doubt as Arsenal opened up a sizeable benefit on the prime.

Arsene Wenger’s aspect had seen their season threaten to unravel, nevertheless, with their earlier two fixtures having seen the Gunners exit each the Champions League and FA Cup in disappointing vogue.

Their aura considerably eliminated, it was Liverpool who took an early lead within the capital as Sami Hyypia headed house from shut vary inside 5 minutes.

Harry Kewell’s deep nook had been headed again throughout the realm by an unmarked Steven Gerrard, with the towering body of Hyypia stooping low to poach a gap objective.

Arsenal have been surprised however regrouped to discover a leveller simply after the half-hour. Robert Pires lifted a ball over the Reds’ backline, with Henry having freed himself of Hyypia’s attentions.

One flawless first contact introduced the ball beneath instantaneous management earlier than a second noticed Henry information a left-footed end previous Jerzy Dudek to revive parity.

Arsenal’s anxiousness had been eased, however three minutes earlier than the break the Gunners fell behind for a second time. Gerrard was afforded house to choose a move and fired a by means of ball down the channel for Michael Owen to chase.

Owen’s darting run noticed him escape England teammate Sol Campbell, with the ahead rolling house a second for Liverpool who headed into the half-time break forward.

“We have been 2-1 down towards Liverpool. And I felt the stadium stopped respiration. We have been having such a terrific season, individuals have been speaking in regards to the treble. And in per week we almost misplaced every little thing.

“There was no noise, it was silence. I used to be within the dressing room, listening, however not there. I used to be simply ready for the referee to blow his whistle and name us again onto the sphere. I used to be simply ready for that second half.”

– Thierry Henry

In want of inspiration, it was a well-recognized supply who got here to the fore for the Gunners.

Two targets in two minutes remodeled the complexion of the conflict and it was Henry who was concerned in each.

Drifting large and deep searching for possession, he mixed with Freddie Ljungberg to arrange Robert Pires for an equaliser simply 4 minutes into the second interval.

Then, only a minute later, got here the most recent in Henry’s catalogue of sensational targets as he took issues into his personal arms with a second of particular person genius.

Receiving possession simply contained in the Liverpool half, he set off on a stunning run into enemy territory, leaving each Hamann and Jamie Carragher trailing in his wake earlier than offering a completion of sophistication to his sensible burst into the field.

The fourteen emblazoned on his again turned a blur as he drove and danced past the Liverpool backline, shrugging off the problem of Hamann earlier than embarrassing Carragher inside the realm.

Henry’s mere presence typically created apprehension and Liverpool’s backline back-peddled in worry because the Frenchman glided by means of the gears at an unstoppable pace.

The end, as ever, was ice-cold, as Highbury erupted in witness of a goalscoring genius including to his personal legend.

Henry’s objective was wrapped in individuality and significance, a scintillating solo objective as he took the sport by the scruff of its neck.

“Once I watch my targets, I by no means actually get goosebumps, however with that one even watching it now, I do get goose bumps.”

Arsenal’s displaying within the second half had been very good and there was nonetheless time for Henry so as to add to his haul, finishing his hat-trick and placing the outcome past doubt.

Henry made the run, Dennis Bergkamp performed the move. The end was fortuitous, however a slice of luck the Premier League’s best footballer deserved after an iconic particular person show.

Henry’s heroics had turned defeat into victory, one other step on the membership’s lengthy street to footballing greatness. It was a outcome and efficiency that relaunched perception as Arsenal edged nearer to the supposedly unattainable.

The league title was secured on the house of North London rivals Tottenham three video games later, with 4 additional video games accomplished with out defeat – together with a final-day comeback towards Leicester – crowning the Gunners as invincible.

Thirty-eight Premier League video games: 26 wins, 12 attracts, zero defeats.

Arsenal’s unbeaten season was and stays a monumental feat, one which was partly impressed by the brilliance of Thierry Henry. Of their time of want and with Liverpool trying to break their report, he delivered one among his best performances and ensured historical past was created.

Learn – Remembering Thierry Henry’s unimaginable season in 2002/03

Learn Additionally – Iconic Performances: Arsenal legend Bergkamp scores THAT hat-trick at Leicester