Sunderland: Arsenal legend Thierry Henry bade farewell to the Premier League in fairytale fashion with an injury-time winner as the Gunners came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at Sunderland and move above Chelsea into fourth place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Substitute Henry, playing in what could be his last ever Premier League game as he prepares to return to Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, scored from close range to complete an impressive Arsenal fightback.
"I know it was the last game in the Premier League and I wanted to say thanks," Henry said. "I felt just like a kid who scores his first goal for the team he loves."
The former France striker volleyed home a cross from Andrei Arshavin in the first minute of stoppage time to complete Arsenal's dramatic comeback after James McClean gave Sunderland the lead in the 70th minute.
Aaron Ramsey came off the bench in the 72nd to equalize three minutes later before Henry scored his third goal since joining Arsenal on loan last month.
"He finished the story of the legend today in the championship. I hope he will add some in the Champions League on Wednesday," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"But certainly, he got us the three points in a very difficult game."
Arsenal are level on points with Chelsea, who lost 2-0 at Everton on Saturday. Both teams have the same goal difference.
The Gunners quickly got into their stride and skipper Robin van Persie wasted a decent early opening following a slip by Michael Turner, but he went for precision over power and Simon Mignolet saved comfortably.
Arsenal, who made one change from the side that crushed Blackburn 7-1 with Bacary Sagna coming in for Francis Coquelin, remained on the front foot as Alex Song and Mikel Arteta dominated the midfield exchanges.
Kieran Richardson had to resort to illegal means to halt Arsenal when Alex Song sent Sagna off down the wing and was booked for a poorly-timed challenge as the fullback sped goalwards.
Theo Walcott came close to putting his side ahead midway through the first half when he was teed up by Van Persie but his angled shot went skidding past Mignolet’s far post.
Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill tried to halt Arsenal in their tracks by ordering his team to defend more deeply and the negative tactics worked because the visitors were unable to find the space necessary to get to Mignolet.
It was clear that Sunderland were ready to rely on counter-attacks and the ploy nearly worked. Indeed Arsenal hearts were in mouths when Black Cats fans called for a penalty after Per Mertesacker slipped and the ball bounced up on to his arm, but referee Neil Swarbrick ignored their appeals.
Sunderland continued to invite Arsenal pressure but Arsene Wenger’s team lacked the creativity to unpick the defence and they almost paid the price at the other end when John O’Shea set his sights on goal following Craig Gardner’s deflected free kick, but he skied his shot over.
That seemed to invigorate Sunderland and Gardner went close to breaking the deadlock but his raking 25-yarder was pawed away by Wojciech Szczesny.
Thierry Henry was sent on to regain the initiative but the move was to no avail as Sunderland went ahead in bizarre circumstances in the 70th minute.
There seemed little danger when Per Mertesacker picked up possession just outside the box but then he crumpled to the ground and McClean showed no mercy, picking up the loose ball beyond slamming a low shot beyond Szczesny.
Mertesacker was taken off on a stretcher and Arsenal looked doomed but then his replacement, Ramsey, popped up on the edge of the box to equalise five minutes later.
This time Lady Luck smiled on Arsenal as the ball ricocheted off Gardner and fell kindly to the Wales captain, who beat Mignolet with a shot from just outside the box that went in off at the post.
Henry, who will make the final appearance of his loan spell for Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, had the final say when he nipped in ahead of Michael Turner to turn in Arshavin’s cross for his 229th goal in Arsenal colours.
"It shows you that they never lose it, these players — exceptional talent survives," Wenger said of Henry, who also scored in the 7-1 win over Blackburn last weekend.
"You have that at the moment with (Ryan) Giggs at Manchester United and (Paul) Scholes, and Thierry Henry here. It's just a luxury to have a player like him on the bench."
Comments
0 comment