Football’s Greatest Goals No.25
This week’s ‘Greatest Goal’ comes from Arsenal’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry. In a game against Charlton Athletic at Highbury in October 2004, the mercurial Frenchman showed his awareness, skill and flair with a single flick of his right foot.
Many of Thierry Henry’s goals in his two spells at Arsenal were fantastic. He perfected the art of the curled shot from the edge of the box that started outside the far post before suddenly curling back in and past the opposing goalkeeper. This was the trademark shot from his strike partner Dennis Bergkamp and the two of them had built up a terrific understanding since Henry’s arrival in the summer of 1999.
Arsenal were already 2-0 up when Jose Antonio Reyes fed the ball fell to Henry who was stood just outside the Charlton six yard box.
Defender Jonathan Fortune was leaning all over the Frenchman’s back and if the Arsenal forward went to ground, he surely would have been given a penalty. Henry’s strength was there for all to see as the was able to hold Fortune off and keep possession of the ball.
After taking a touch to control the ball, the Arsenal man steadied himself whilst having to stay balanced with Fortune all over him like a rash. Without looking, Henry stabbed the ball towards goal with a forceful backheel and it zipped across Dean Keily in the Charlton goal into the far corner of the net.
The Highbury crowd were once again left in awe after witnessing a fantastic goal scored by Thierry Henry. As an Arsenal fan, I can remember the air of expectancy that used to come about every time Thierry Henry got possession of the ball and us Arsenal fans would lap it up!
Arsenal would go on to beat Charlton 4-0 and it was their 48th league match unbeaten, going back to May 2003. They would win their next game 3-1 at home to Aston Villa before their run came to an end against Manchester United in a controversial match at Old Trafford.
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