Arsenal FC: Top 10 Thierry Henry Moments for Arsenal

Thierry Henry's return to the Emirates stadium on July 30th was one of the few highlights of a fairly dismal Preseason for Gunners' fans.

Henry is still greatly admired and missed in North London.  His world class contributions provided some of the enduring images from Arsene Wenger's most successful period with the club.

There is no doubt that with Henry in his prime this team would have won more than a few trophies during the past six years.

Given that his visit sparked such nostalgia for the glory days of the past, here is a list of Thierry Henry's ten greatest moments with Arsenal.

10. Hat Trick Against Roma, 2002 Champions League

In November 2002 Arsenal travelled to the Italian capital in desperate need of a win.  Things started badly and Arsenal found themselves trailing.

Henry then took control of the game in a typically dominant display.  He was at his best as he tore through a bewildered Roma defense to record a stunning Champions League hat trick.

The goals showed all of Henry's intelligence, pace, power and technique.  His scoring exploits in Rome are best remembered for the thunderous curling free kick which sealed the victory.

9. Four Goals Against Leeds United, April 2004

Thierry henry's four goal demolition of relegation threatened Leeds United in May 2004 moved Arsenal closer to the title and showed just why Arsene Wenger had built the team around him.

Henry's lightning speed coupled with his imposing strength made him the perfect outlet for Arsenal's crisp, direct passing.

The first and third goals illustrate this point beautifully.  Henry darts on to perceptive through passes thanks to his pace and excellent timing.  These were the days when Arsenal regularly required only three passes to score a goal.

Henry's fourth goal was the kind of effort that made Arsenal fans lucky to have such a talented player on the team.

Picking up the ball from a deft touch by Robert Pires just inside the Leeds half, Henry uses his amazing sudden acceleration to blaze into the Leeds box in an instant.

Nights like this saw Arsene Wenger's ideal vision of football truly come to life.

8. Two Goals and Two Assists vs. Inter Milan, 2003 Champions League

Thierry Henry tore through one of world football's finest defenses in late 2003.  Henry was the catalyst for Arsenal's famous 5-1 triumph over Inter Milan in the San Siro.

In a must win game for Arsenal, their prolific striker delivered one of his greatest all round performances.

Henry got Arsenal off to a great start with a sharp shot.  After Christian Vieri's deflected equaliser had levelled things by halftime, Henry made the second period his own.

He orchestrated Freddie Ljunberg's goal to put Arsenal back in front.  Then came the abiding image of the game.

After an Inter corner was scrambled clear by a combination of Sol Campbell and Edu, Henry raced onto the loose ball and sped towards goal.

Henry darted down the left flank and proceeded to turn Javier Zanetti all the way around before slamming home an unstoppable shot to put the game out of Inter Milan's reach.

Later Henry popped up on the right wing and laid on a goal for Edu.  On this night Henry demonstrated what a complete player he was.

He was Arsenal's chief goal threat, but Henry also possessed the skill and inventiveness to direct the play as well.

7. Goal of the Season V Manchester United, October 2000

Henry's wonder strike during the 2000/01 season provided Arsenal with a memorable victory over Manchester United.

The goal showed all of Henry's trademark style and panache.  With his back to goal Henry flicked the ball off the ground and in the same movement turned and connected with a perfect volley.

The ball looped straight past a stunned Fabien Barthez and brought the Highbury crowd to their feet in appreciation.

Only Henry would have tried something so spectacular.  This kind of inventive daring was the true characteristic of his game.

6. Hat Trick V Liverpool, April 2004

In one week Arsenal's superb 2003/04 season looked as though it had been destroyed.  Defeat in the FA Cup Semi Final against Manchester United was followed by an embarrassing capitulation against Chelsea in the Champions League Quarter Final.

Now only the league remained and Arsenal faced a tricky home fixture against Liverpool.  Under intense pressure Arsenal fell behind by a goal at halftime.  The nervous tension in the crowd was palpable.

Robert Pires equalised early in the second period and the game and the season, hung in the balance.  Henry chose this pivotal moment to shine.

Picking up the ball just inside Liverpool territory, Henry glided past Dietmar Hamman and arrowed through a flat footed Liverpool back four.

Moving at phenomenal pace and maintaining precise control, Henry deftly slotted the ball home to put Arsenal in front.

Henry later capped proceedings with a scrambled third goal, completing his hat trick and ensuring Arsenal's season would end with silverware.

5. Hat Trick V Wigan Athletic, May 2006

Henry was pure class in 2005/06 and his hat trick against Wigan Athletic was the perfect goodbye to Highbury and fittingly sealed Arsenal's fourth placed finish.

Arsenal and Henry lifted more trophies in previous seasons but the team's final year at Highbury was his finest campaign for the Gunners.

Without Henry, Arsenal would have certainly fallen out of the top four and would never have made it to the Champions League final.

Arsenal needed to win their final three games to achieve Champions League qualification.  Henry was never better as his goals and assists powered Arsenal past Sunderland and Manchester City, setting up the decisive contest against Wigan.

After taking an early lead, Arsenal then fell behind two goals.  Henry then took over, he levelled the score through his devastating pace and clinical finishing.

Henry's third goal came from the penalty spot.  The tearful striker then sank to his knees and kissed the Highbury field.

4. Scoring the Equaliser V Tottenham Hotspur, April 2006

Henry scored many great goals against Tottenham Hotspur but his classy effort in 2006 was probably his most important.

When Arsenal faced their bitter North London rivals in late April, Spurs were in pole position to snatch fourth spot away from the Gunners.

Defeat would have been fatal to Arsenal's chances of securing Champions League football for the following season.

Arsenal was rocked by a highly controversial Spurs goal and the season seemed destined to slip away.  Henry began the day on the bench but when Arsenal needed him the most, Henry answered the call.

Arsenal's record goal scorer emerged from the dugout and immediately changed the game.  Latching on to a quick pass from Emmanuel Adebayor, Henry quickly moved along the left hand side of the box.

In one sharp movement Henry rolled his foot over the top of the ball and then toe poked it around the oncoming defender and across Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.

It was a bold piece of skill, expertly executed.  The goal tipped the fight for fourth in Arsenal's favour.  Without it Arsenal would have began life at the Emirates stadium in the second tier of European football.

3. Heading the Winner Against Manchester United, January 2007

Thierry Henry regularly proved to be the undoing of Manchester United.  His injury time header against the Red Devils in January 2007 was one of Henry's greatest Arsenal moments.

Arsenal's alarming fall from the summit of English football has taken some of the lustre away from their rivalry with Manchester United.

But back in early 2007, Arsenal against Manchester United was still the marquee fixture on the Premier League calendar.

The 2006/07 season saw Arsenal have one of the better of their clashes with Manchester United.  The Gunners sharply outplayed United in a single goal victory at Old Trafford.

By the time hostilities were renewed at the Emirates, an impressive United squad held a commanding lead at the top of the table.

Alex Ferguson's men were quicker to the ball than Arsenal in the first hour and took the lead via a stooping header from arch Gunners' nemesis Wayne Rooney.

Displaying the kind of fighting spirit that has been lacking too often during the last few seasons, Arsenal battled back.  Robin Van Persie slammed home an equaliser from a tight angle.

In stoppage time Arsenal fashioned a crossing opportunity for Emmanuel Eboue.  The eccentric full back produced a superb delivery.

Henry directed a powerful header which blasted through the outstretched hand of Edwin van der Sar and into the roof of the net to win the game.  Brilliant.

2. Scoring the Winner in the Bernabeu

Thierry Henry's superb solo effort in the Bernabeu condemned Real Madrid to their first ever home defeat against English opposition.

When Arsenal were drawn against Real Madrid in the first knockout stage of the 2005/06 Champions League, many predicted a comfortable victory for the Spanish powerhouse.

Madrid entered the game on a run of ten straight wins and Arsenal who was struggling domestically fielded a depleted back four and seemed to lack the necessary firepower.

Right from the start Arsenal produced against the odds type of performance Arsene Wenger's football philosophy can deliver.

Arsenal's quick passing and intelligent movement caught a confident Madrid team off guard.  Arsenal created three good chances in a dazzling first half display.

Having failed to score the worry was whether Arsenal would be punished for not managing to translate their attacking superiority into goals.  It seemed Arsenal would struggle to perform as well in the second half.

Henry soon eradicated any such fears.  Receiving the ball from Cesc Fabregas Henry powered past Ronaldo and then weaved around Guti.

Gliding into the box Henry calmly passed the ball across Iker Casillas and into the net.  It was a magnificent goal on football's biggest stage.

The strike capped a perfect night for Arsenal as they went to the home of the masters and outplayed Real Madrid at their own game.

1. Wonder Goal V Tottenham Hotspur, November 2002

Henry's remarkable slaloming effort against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby in late 2002, is perhaps the most memorable moment of his Arsenal career.

Arsenal began the season as reigning champions and produced perhaps the finest free flowing football the English game has ever known.

But by November the Gunners were beginning to falter.  One of their chief problems was that Henry was experiencing a mild drought.

Henry chose a bitterly contested game against Arsenal's local enemy to get back on track in spectacular fashion.

His one man counter attack was breathtaking to watch.  The speed, balance and close control was staggering.  After rifling home the finish, Henry erupted into a highly controversial and iconic celebration.

Thierry Henry left behind a litany of great memories from his career with Arsenal.  Since his departure in 2007 he has been difficult to replace.

When he was at his best Arsenal was the most exciting team in English football and a dominant force in the global game.

Gunners fans will be hoping young speedsters Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can mature into something close to the player Henry was at his peak.  They have a lot to live up to.