After the news that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year later this week, we’ve taken a look back at some of his best moments during his time over two spells with the Gunners.
1. Signing for Arsenal (August 1999)
Back to where it all began. Henry arrived at the club in the summer of 1999 to be reunited with Arsene Wenger, who he played under at Monaco.
He was signed as a replacement for fellow France striker Nicolas Anelka and he struggled at first, but Wenger transformed him from a winger to a top-class striker.
It took nine games for him to open his Arsenal account – and the rest, as they say, is history.
2. That goal against Tottenham (November 2002)
Running 60 yards with nobody in the Spurs defence able to get near you – it doesn’t get better than that as an Arsenal player. Henry’s solo goal against Spurs at Highbury summed up his qualities as an elite striker.
He easily sidestepped Stephen Carr’s challenge and, after another touch with his right foot, Henry slotted his effort past Kasey Keller from just inside the area.
Given the opposition, the Frenchman still had enough energy to celebrate with an almost pitch-length sprint and knee slide to suitably enraged the away fans as the picture below demonstrates.
3. Becoming Arsenal’s record goalscorer (October 2005)
During the 2005-06 season, Henry had a personal season to remember. His best achievement, which is yet to be beaten, was becoming Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer.
He scored two goals against Sparta Prague in the Champions League to break Ian Wright’s record of 185 goals.
The Frenchman would finish with 228 goals for the club.
4. A sublime solo goal at the Bernabeu (February 2006)
Henry was a man for the big occasion and it doesn’t get much bigger than a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in the Champions League.
With 46 minutes on the clock, Henry worked his magic. He held off three challenges and finished past Iker Casillas with a low shot to give Arsenal a famous win in Madrid.
The Gunners reached the last eight as a result of Henry’s strike but were beaten by Barcelona in the final.
5. Signing off from Highbury with a hat-trick (May 2006)
After 93 years at Highbury, it was time for pastures new as a move to Emirates Stadium was on the horizon.
The Gunners secured the fourth and final Champions League place with a thrilling 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic.
Henry scored three and in doing so, stopped arch-rivals Spurs getting the last spot in Europe’s top-tier competition.
He completed his treble from the penalty spot with 14 minutes left and kissed the Highbury turf in celebration.
The 2010th and final game at the old stadium concluded in the perfect way.
6. Henry returns to Arsenal and scores the winner against Leeds (January 2012)
The return of the King. Henry left Arsenal in June 2007 to join Barcelona and then moved to New York Red Bulls in July 2010. However, his Arsenal story had another chapter to be written.
During Major League Soccer’s off-season, he trained with his former club before signing a two-month loan deal in January 2012.
His second Arsenal debut came as a substitute against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round and he marked the occasion by scoring the only goal and sending the Emirates crowd wild.
Aged 34, he showed that he still had that va va voom.
