The Return of the King

Tolkien's "The Return of the King" was the climax of his literary masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) trilogy, wherein the reign of Sauron was finally put to an end, and the return of the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor.

I am not blogging about LOTR. I am blogging about the Thierry Henry's return to the club that made him a global football superstar, Arsenal. My love affair with Arsenal began with Thierry Henry (But I have no intention to end it with Thierry's impending departure at the end of this week.). He may have left the club for Champions League glory, but he is a Gooner through and through.

His brief second spell as a Gunner are stuff that fairy tales and/or Hollywood sports movies are made. Unlike the LOTR's, Theirry's return is not the climax of Arsenal's 2011-2012 season. I must say his return served as a band aid to the club's beleaguered line-up due to injuries, out-of-form players, and players on-duty for their respective countries.

Thierry's first game was versus Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup. He started from the bench. Arsenal fought a gritty Leeds United team who were playing for a draw at the Ashburton Grove in order to attain a replay at Elland Road. Just as we thought that this game was going to end in a goalless draw, Thierry Henry scored a goal that was reminiscent to his Arsenal heydays.

That goal brought tears in my eyes. I could not describe the feeling, as if that moment was already written in the stars. I had high hopes with Arsenal's next fixtures in the Premier League now that the legendary player who was cast in bronze last December, came to life with the same clinical precision with his feet.

Unfortunately, Arsenal failed to win their fixtures vs. Swansea City, Manchester United and Bolton. One time they were sitting on seventh place, the lowest rank that they have ever  been since Arsene Wenger took over the reigns of the club (at this time of the year).

But on the first fixture for the month of February, Arsenal thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7-1 at the Grove. The club's present captain, Robin van Persie, scored a hattrick. Thierry came on as a substitute. In the 90th minute he exchanged passes with van Persie, and scored the 7th goal for the Gunners. That goal seemed to remind me of his partnership with Dennis Bergkamp, van Persie's now retired compatriot.

Just this weekend against Sunderland with scores tied up at 1-1, Andrey Arshavin delivered a lovely cross to Thierry Henry's foot, and snatch a hard fought victory almost at the death (and not to mention a very patchy pitch).

Goal # 229. That could be Thierry's last goal for Arsenal in the Premiership. He he will have to return to his present club, the New York Red Bulls, for the coming Major League Soccer season. But before he goes back, he'll have to face AC Milan at the San Siro in the knockout stage of UEFA Champions League. Thierry competitive as he is, will always stand up in any huge occassion. I remember how his teammates then thrashed AC Milan's bitter rivals, Inter Milan, at the same stadium, when qualification for the CL knockout stage was on the line. I still remember that scoreline, 1-5.

They say I am too old for fairy tales, but because of Thierry, I still believe in them.


Au revoir and merci beaucoup, Titi! Bonne chance!

PS: I am quite disappointed that he will not play vs. Tottenham on the 26th. He is fond of scoring goals against them.