Arsenals top goal scorer and one of the best strikers in
history, Thierry Henry’s illustrious career saw him win everything worth
winning in the game. He scored 338 professional goals, but his game was about
far more than scoring. His adaptability saw him play in a pair of strikers,
alone up front and on the left of three forwards. Far more than just a poacher,
his creativity even saw him create the most assists ever in one single season.
Picking Thierry’s goal top 5 goals was always going to be
difficult. This list has been made to show the versatility of his goals; the fact
he could, and did, score any and every type of goal. Long range belters,
dancing round a host of defenders, scoring from impossible angles and deft
little touches, he’s done them all.
Unfortunately, some of these goals were scored when Thierry
Henry was playing for other teams, but he is an Arsenal man and this article is
a celebration of his goals.
So with that in mind, here are Thierry Henry’s top 5 goals.
1. Vs Manchester United
At this time in history, Arsenal’s rivalry with United was
at its peak. The games between the two teams were the blockbuster events of the
season. They were often spikey and filled with emotion. The casual yet sublime
goal Thierry scored showcased his strength, creativity and striking ability all
in one, as he once again made the art of goal scoring look all too easy.
The ball was rolled into the Frenchman, with his back to
goal, outside the corner of the penalty box. He was holding off a defender with
one arm as the ball comes in. Flicking the ball up and simultaneously spinning,
he lashed the ball up and over the United keeper, who couldn’t even get close
enough to dive for the ball as it found its way to the top corner.
2. Vs Tottenham
A fantastic solo effort, and one the man himself has spoken
about how much he enjoyed this goal and its celebrations. Netting against the old enemy only enhances
the pleasure. This goal in particular makes the phrase ‘men against boys’
spring to mind. Thierry looks bigger, stronger and faster than anyone on the
pitch, like a year 11 kid that’s come to spoil the year 7’s game.
A high clearance comes to Thierry mid-way in his own half.
He takes control of the ball, brushes off a challenge and charges towards the
Spurs goal at break-neck speed. Three defenders have scrambled back to the
18-yard box, where they sit in a kind of low block. Thierry runs at them,
pauses looking for his chance to shoot and they melt away. Their brains jumbled
at the high then low speeds the striker moves at, and he slots the ball into
the low left corner of the goal. The Frenchman still has the energy to run half
the pitch and celebrate in a pose that is now immortalised in bronze outside
the Emirates stadium.
3. Vs Columbus
A goal from a corner? What? From the corner? Yes! It’s not
clear exactly how many players have scored from this position, but it’s not
something you see often. Bending a ball out and back in, from a seemingly
impossible angle, is an impressive feat.
The year was 2012 and Thierry was playing for New York Red
Bull. He had already scored one on the night, when he stepped up to take a
corner from the left-side corner flag. The ball swings out high, misleading the
keeper, then swerves back in crashing against the post before resting in the
net.
4. Vs
Charlton
An audacious back-heel goal. There are a few players that
can boast a goal using the same technique, but not many have done it under as
much pressure as Thierry was under. Who would be thinking about doing a
back-heel shot when there’s an opposition defender right behind them? The goal
shows Thierry’s creativity, confidence and opportunistic scoring ability.
After some neat build up play between Henry, Bergkamp and
Reyes, the Frenchman finds himself on the corner of the six-yard box with his
back to goal and a defender clambering all over him, as if in a judo or jujitsu
competition. At one point, Thierry must have been supporting the full body
weight of the Charlton man. Then, quick as a flash, he back-heels the ball
through the legs of defender and into the low corner of the net. The impressive
power generated and accuracy of the back-heel make it unsaveable for the
keeper.
5. Vs Montréal
What great goals list would be complete without an overhead
kick? The ‘Pele’; the one that dreams are made of. Merely executing an overhead
kick requires true athleticism and great timing. This wasn’t an overhead kick,
with time and space, from a looping high ball but an instinctive reaction to
scoring goals.
Thierry already had one goal to his name, and the game was
tied at 1-1 when the Bulls were awarded a corner kick in the 88th minute. The
out-swinging corner comes in and is flicked to the back post area to behind
Thierry. He spins, throws his leg into the air and smashes the ball into the
far top corner. Is there a better way to score a winner?
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