What is va va voom?
It’s many things. It’s a style, an attitude. It’s a grace, an impudence, a gallic flair. It’s instant control, a side-footed finish, and a shrug of celebration. And what is more, it’s back. As of today, for a period of six to eight weeks, Arsenal will once more be able to call on the greatest player in their history. Thierry Henry has returned.
In his first spell at the club, Henry netted a record 226 goals in 370 games. This time, he could play a maximum of ten times, starting with tonight’s FA Cup tie at home to Leeds.
If you’re in the ground tonight, savour it. If you’ve not yet got a ticket, grab one. Take your kids; take your grandchildren. In ten, twenty, even fifty years time they will be able to say they saw Thierry Henry in an Arsenal shirt.
In his pomp, Henry was the most exciting athlete I’ve seen on the Premier League stage. He combined the electric pace of a sprinter with balletic poise, and an incredible imagination with deceptive physical power. After arriving as a peripheral and shot-shy winger, he evolved in to Europe’s most stylish goalscorer. But you already knew that. The story has become myth, and the man a living legend.
Some have bemoaned Henry’s return, disappointed that the club have elected for a short-term option, and fearing that the player could tarnish his legacy. I can’t find room for such cynicism. The signing is clearly a practical measure. The African Cup of Nations has left us with a scarcity of strikers, and most of our primary targets are unavailable in this window. As Arsene Wenger has repeatedly insisted, the opportunity to take someone with Henry’s class on loan is simply too good to turn down.
And class, let’s remember, is permanent. Henry himself admits he’s not the same player. He’s not expecting to skip through gears and defenders with the same ease or regularity he did in his first spell. But if a chance is to fall in the box, I’d still rather it was to Thierry than any other of our attacking options – with the obvious exception of Robin van Persie. And the idea that anything that happens in the next two months could damage his extraordinary achievements in the past are absurd. It will take more than a few underwhelming cameos to shift his bronze immortalization from the stadium concourse.
I don’t expect miracles. But I do expect more great memories, starting with the roar of the crowd when he takes to the field tonight.
On the pitch, Henry often seemed to be able to write his own scripts. He himself could not have penned a better fixture list for his two month renaissance. The opportunity to compete in Premier League, FA Cup and Europe, with ties at home to Manchester United and away at the San Siro. There is even an option for a glorious farewell in one of the most hotly-contested North London derbies for years.
An Arsenal career that spans three decades is entering its final phase. The long goodbye begins tonight. Turn the page, enter the final chapter, and savour every moment. This is The Return of The King. Prepare to pay homage.
our igwe is back to net more goals like before
hopefully wont get injured for 2 months….
I love d come back of the king, now wenger should know how to be using him.
Does anyone know anything about this new signing???
I bet he is another cut price budget signing!!
Bring back Bendtner…
i dont think he will score during his time back with us… what odds Ladbrokes?
The return of the King like that! I can’t afford to miss tonights march!
GS, you are officially a moron.
” As Arsene Wenger has repeatedly insisted, the opportunity to take someone with Henry’s class on loan is simply too good to turn down.”
Haha…you should also follow it by saying….
“…I am now off to suck some Wenger cock”
GS, you are ridiculously biased. Now, if it were towards Arsenal then Great! But not towards that incompetent fool we call a manager.
Now please, get off your knees, take your hand of Wenger’s balls and start talking some sense….because this shit your spewing out is a travesty to this once great blog.
Can’t wait to see the king in the red-white shirt again.
A sophisticated player that attracted me
to the arsenal at the first time.
So i’m gonna wake up at 2.30 am (jakarta’s time)
in the working day, just to welcoming him
I don’t know what his contribution would be, but there’s one thing I’m sure of: he’ll play his heart out like he never had since leaving Arsenal.
So let’s see. The deed is done. Let’s welcome our King.
And buy a couple more.
Want to see Park step up tonight and the Ox to bang in 2 goals with Henry getting the third. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Great post! I’m going to reference this!
Great goal from a once great and still great player – Thierry Henry!
2 months will pass like 2 weeks tho
I cried when Henry scored, and i remembered why I am an Arsenal fan. But was this goal good or bad for Arsenal, long term? I am not so sure, but if God makes a difference while he is here, I suppose I`am happy enough.
The king is back!!!
Long live the king
Great goal from a great player.I also thought Ramsey had a good game and right back who replaced coq did well,disappointed again with mc and AA should av put a couple home
Roll on the weekend!!!
That goal was a great moment for football.
I really enjoyed that goal. Great assist from Song, precision from Henry with two defenders bearing down and the keeper to beat. Great goal.
i love henry. it was like a dream to see him in the arsenal shirt again. what a hollywood opening act that was for him. even if he doesn’t score again, i will not forget this moment.
it also reminded me how important it is for us to find a good or great goal scorer. van persie is all-world at the moment but other than him we rarely score. gervinho and walcott are not the answer. we must buy someone either now or in the summer who can come on and lead us with goals in case van persie goes down? i suspect he won’t buy anyone and we’ll be screwed.
long live the king of highbury and emirates!
Top photo…..
amazing what a real striker could add to this team. Sad we are reduced to this, but Henry is a special special man. No doubt he has given the club so much but the worst thing he gave us is the notion that wenger is a world class manager. If not for Henry, wenger would have been sacked 4 years ago. No suprise that he calls for him again in his hour of need.
Wenger is such a player, such a bull shit artiste of the highest order. He should run for a seat on the EU.
If only all of our players burned with the same desire to score goals for the Arsenal as Thierry does. Great to see him back winning games for us
that last paragraph was pure poetry, especially when you watch replays of his goal last night.