Published: 12 January, 2012
by RICHARD OSLEY

Both Henry and Wenger agree winning FA Cup goal was like a dream

THERE will be people who will tell you that the Thierrymania which took hold at Ashburton Grove and across north London this week was overkill, that the 34-year-old’s unthinkable cameo in the FA Cup was against a lower division side with a static defence, rather than Manchester United or Chelsea.

They are awfully basic-minded folk, lacking soul and romance.

They will  make terrible lovers.

As they peer over the fence, it is impossible for them to comprehend the sheer beauty of what actually happened on Monday night.

Don’t be mistaken in the mist.

Arsenal fans are not deceived.

They are more than aware that Thierry Henry’s stint back at a club which honours his 226, sorry, 227 goals with a statue outside the stadium is just a glimpse of what it used to be like around here.

They know, too, that his killer instinct, still too good for Leeds United after all these years, highlights the frailties of the current team.

But this, my goodness, was ultimate Roy of the Rovers stuff.

Thierry of The Gunners.

It is rare to see a player so clearly in love with a football club, who shares the affection with the supporters.

He said he had found out what it was like to score for the team he sup­ported after­wards.

The problem for Spurs fans particularly is that there is no real equivalent at their club to what Thierry achieved at Arsenal.

They do not know what it is like for a player to bond with their club, to share his skills for so long and so successfully in the way Henry did for Arsenal.

Nobody has stayed around long enough at White Hart Lane in their recent history to be immortalised in such a way.

They have had good players in the Premiership age, but most have moved on without cementing any real legendary status.

So they are in no position to judge whether that time-freezing, ecstatic moment with 12 minutes to go at the Emirates Stadium on Monday led to overkill and obsession.

Mean words about Thierry can do no harm now.

What would any Arsenal fan have said at the start of the season about the idea of Henry, stupidly derided as “an old man” by rivals despite his contribution to sport in north London and beyond, coming back and settling a deadlocked cup-tie with a trademark finish?

But, for the deal, you have to stomach an 8-2 defeat and being cheated out of the north London derby by a handball?

They would have signed up straight away, inking the contract in blood.

The goal, whether it counts as the start of an FA Cup run or just a simple reminder of the best player to ever grace the Premiership, will now always stand up there with some of Arsenal’s most magical moments.

Song to Henry, one touch, second touch, goal. History, right there. Charlie George.

Liam Brady.

Michael Thomas.

Tony Adams’s championship-clinching half-volley against Everton.

Thierry against Real Madrid, Milan and Man United.

And now Thierry against Leeds.

No Manchester City-sized cheque can buy something as genuine as that.

Henry and Wenger agreed afterwards it was like a dream.

It was the most surreal night, but the most beautiful too.

You have to sit through a fair few dull matches against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers and all the rest for moments like this, and when they come you have to drink them up and so we did.

Arsenal will struggle against Swansea at the weekend; Thierry won’t have a kick – but that moment, that goal, what a thing.

What a thing.

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