There’s nothing but joy there, pouring from a man who has scored hundreds of goals, won league titles in three countries, not to mention the Champions League and the World Cup and countless individual honors, and look at him. Pure, unadulterated joy from a man whose love for and contributions to this club cannot be questioned, even when he decided to leave. It’s rare that a player plays for one club anymore, even if he wants to, but it’s still a testament to the man and the relationship he formed with the club that this goal, one of hundreds he has scored, could inspire such a celebration from him and from the fans in attendance.
For myself, I’d never seen Henry score for Arsenal. Not live, at least. I missed the Invincibles as well. In those days, football didn’t get any airtime in America, and the internet, at least as far as I knew, hadn’t yet offered ways for us to watch online. I had to rely on newspaper reports, a poor substitute for seeing the action unfold in the moment. More recently, thanks largely to the internet, I’ve seen some spectacular goals that required greater skill or technique, that were scored under greater duress, that came against stiffer competition, but none that provoked in me such a response as the one I’ve have for this goal. For other goals, I’ve leapt from my seat; I’ve shouted to the heavens; I’ve hugged absolute strangers and spilled expensive bevies. I’ve sung. I’ve chanted. Hell, I’ve pulled muscles and thrown out my back. Not for this goal. Nope.
All I could do, a grown man, was sit there and let tears roll down my cheek, chin in my hand, and watch. I didn’t want to miss a single glorious second. It was, in a way, like losing my virginity. Like being initiated or baptized. Remember—this was the very first time I had seen Henry score in real time. I’ve seen highlights. I’ve watched replays and documentaries. I’d seen him score for Barca and Red Bulls live, but these barely rate the mention. There’s a long list of things I’ll never get to do, such as seeing a match at Highbury, and seeing Henry score for Arsenal was on that list until this day last year.
Yes, the goal came at a time when we were worried about the club’s direction, ambition, and future, but I don’t think my response was borne from some misbegotten desperation for Henry to resurrect the club and impel it to past glories. His hey-day is in the past; his pantherine form has acquired a bit more heft, and his hairline has receded a bit more. Any time that talks turns to the legends and the glories of the first eight or nine years under Arsene, there’s bound to be some myopic wishes made all the more irresistible when one of those legends returns and scores. Would he stay? Could he inspire the club to reclaim its status, to end its trophy drought?
No, there was none of that for me. Even then, I knew it was more curtain-call than encore from one of the finest players this club has ever seen and, instead of tarnishing the myth by asking him to try to lead the line, I’m just thankful that he came back and showed us that he still has the touch—that touch on the ball and, at the risk of getting melodramatic, that touch to our hearts.
The problem with spending too much time in the past, though, is that it takes our eyes off the present and future. Who among the current squad will we be hailing? Which moments, splendid as they will have been in the moment, will become burnished by time, bronzed in our memories as Henry’s form is bronzed outside the stadium? This is where legends come from—moments of brilliance, ripened by memory. Henry’s goal against Leeds may not be his most striking, his most stunning, or his most significant, but to me, it will always be his most memorable. Firsts always are.
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easily one my favorite goals no matter who it was against.
Not my favourite goal – LUFC Fan
Sorry, mate, I forget that non-Gooners arrive here from time to time.
@Prato_s same here,was jumping like monkey at 2am enough to wake my parents.
written like a true gunner!
Watching on telly is not seeing it 'live'!
“A goal against Leeds United in the FA Cup may lack the historic significance of a goal at the Bernabeu in the Champions League or at White Hart Lane to win the Prem”Certainly not true! Arsenal vs Leeds in the FA Cup has a lot of historical significance!!Remember the 1972 FA Cup Final?Anyway, Henry was and still is a legend. Awesome player. One of the all time greats, well certainly one of the Premier League all time greats.Sam Clark. Leeds Fan
a bit nit-picky, I suppose, but you're right. On my list is to see a match in person, at the Emirates!
I was there amongst many gooners who were really giving their boys some verbal, where as our boys were singing all game….. a when he came on the crowd was upbeat, I nudged my Leeds colleague, and said I bet he nicks…. I didn't stand when he scored, where after there was much finger pointing and me shrugging my shoulders….. fair play he was and is a god to the Arsenal brethren
ah, how could I forget? I even wrote about Arsenals' yellow kits as a reminder of that very game! Thanks for the reminder, and all the best to you guys this year!
BORING !!
No one from Leeds would begrudge Henry his acheivements , he was a fantastic player , I remember this goal well , it reminded me of a certain Mr wright who after a long lay off finally became fit again to face us in the cup at elland road , and as we all predicted, he scored
sorry you felt that way. thanks for stopping by anyway.
pfft. ignore. probably bitter Spud.
Cheers mate. I hope we push on and make the playoffs.Hope you or City win the league, anyone but the red part of Manchester basically.Henry = Top playerSam Clark
Not Nit-picking at all Jon. I think American's have a different attitude. I was a Leeds fan at the game. Didn't see a single Arsenal fan shed a tear I have to say! My 1st 'live' game was Arsenal vs Leeds United aged 10 in 1980. A certain Terry Connor scored, had to wait a long time to see us win again at Highbury though mind!
I wonder if I'm a bit less jaded (?) having missed Arsenal's most glorious years. Not having experienced the Invincibles first-hand, live, on t.v,, or anywhere, my expectations might be lower. Being American might also change my perception of things. I'm maybe more sentimental regardless of nationality as well!
I'll be pulling for you to climb the Championship. Best to you!