Football: ‘This is what dreams are made of’

Wenger lauds Henry’s goal after FA Cup win.

LONDON:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Thierry Henry’s winning goal in his emotional comeback match against Leeds United as ‘like a dream’.

The 34-year-old former France international needed just over 10 minutes to score the only goal of the game at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup third-round tie. Henry came off the bench in the 68th minute and disposed of the Championship side with a high-quality finish having taken a pass from Alex Song on the left of the penalty area.

It was his first game in an Arsenal shirt since 2007 when he left for Barcelona, returning to the Gunners last week in an eight-week loan arrangement with the New York Red Bulls.

Wenger was aware that such a story was of the fairytale variety, with the club only just having unveiled a statue of the Frenchman outside the stadium to mark a record tally of goals that has now gone up to 227.

“He was already a legend here and he has added just a bit more to the whole story,” said Wenger. “It was a little bit like a dream because it was the sort of story you would tell to young kids that you want to know about football.

“Unfortunately it’s not often like that in our game – but sometimes it happens.”

Wenger had allowed top-scorer Robin van Persie to miss the match and must now ponder how to get the best out of Henry and the Netherlands international.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2012.