Farewell Henry

Thierry Henry signed off his second spell at Arsenal on a hugely disappointing note as the Gunners crashed to a 4-0 defeat at AC Milan. Here, we look back at the impact made by the 34-year-old since rejoining the club he left in 2007 on a short-term loan deal from the New York Red Bulls.

Last Updated: February 16, 2012 11:40am

Arsenal 1 Leeds 0 (FA Cup third round, January 9)

The Gunners' all-time top scorer made a scoring return to North London, netting the winner 12 minutes from time on his first Arsenal appearance since 2007 to send Leeds out of the FA Cup. Henry had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes when he produced a typically cultured finish to bag his 277th goal for the club, prompting manager Arsene Wenger to hail the Frenchman's return a dream. Leeds boss Simon Grayson went further in his post-match musings, declaring that a goal on Henry's second debut "was probably written in the stars".

Honey! I'm home! Look who's back!

Swansea 3 Arsenal 2 (Premier League, January 15)

If Henry's return against Leeds was a dream, then the Gunners' trip to south Wales six days later was certainly a rude awakening. The former Barcelona man came on as 63rd-minute substitute with Arsenal trailing 2-1 and it appeared that it was to be another talismanic performance when Theo Walcott equalised six minutes later. However, Danny Graham replied within seconds to earn Swansea an unlikely victory and effectively end Arsenal's Premier League title hopes. Henry finished the most disappointing of afternoons by quarrelling with members of the club's travelling support.

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 2 (FA Cup fourth round, January 29)

Henry's heroics were not required in this cup tie, with the drama preceding his 89th-minute entrance. Arsenal had trailed 2-0 at half-time before three goals in seven minutes at the beginning of the second half kept alive Wenger's hopes of winning a fifth FA Cup.

Bolton 0 Arsenal 0 (Premier League, February 1)

Henry replaced 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with 20 minutes remaining in this fixture, which most Gunners would have considered winnable, but again the Frenchman was unable to prevent another Arsenal stumble in their bid to secure a 16th consecutive UEFA Champions League berth. It was an inspired Bolton performance and Owen Coyle's men were more than value for their point. Although not the result Wenger would have wanted, the draw did signal the end of a run of three straight league defeats.

Arsenal 7 Blackburn 1 (Premier League, February 4)

The Frenchman produced a scoring farewell to fans at the Emirates Stadium, with the rout against Blackburn likely to be Henry's final appearance in North London. Gael Givet's first-half dismissal was partly responsible for buffering the scoreline in Arsenal's favour but Wenger's men were at their imperious best throughout, as Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick and Oxlade-Chamberlain bagged a brace. Henry replaced the latter in the 68th minute and he provided the perfect punctuation to Arsenal's afternoon when he repaid Van Persie's unselfish pass by netting his 278th goal for the club.

Henry takes the congratulations of Alex Song at Sunderland

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2 (Premier League, February 11)

Henry, a 66th-minute substitute, scored his third goal of his Arsenal swansong deep into stoppage time to take his Premier League tally to 176 in 258 matches, securing all three points for the Gunners as a result. Sunderland took the lead thanks to a James McClean effort with 20 minutes remaining before Aaron Ramsey replied for Wenger's side. And, with the game seemingly destined to end a draw, Henry found space between John O'Shea and Michael Turner to volley home Andrey Arshavin's well-placed cross.

Henry will have figured in few Arsenal performances worse than in Milan

AC Milan 4 Arsenal 0 (Champions League, February 15)

Henry's final outing was the best in terms of minutes spent on the pitch - but by far the worst in terms of the result. With Arsenal trailing 2-0 at the break to goals by Kevin-Prince Boateng and Robinho, Wenger elected to throw the Frenchman into the action as a half-time replacement for Walcott. A fairytale ending failed to materialise, however, as Milan added further goals through Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. For his part, Henry's one moment of note was an exquisite flick to set up a chance for Van Persie, but in truth it was an anonymous outing that will rank as an unfitting send-off for the Arsenal legend.