October 18 – Henry Sets Arsenal Scoring Record - Soccer365 (press release)
After failing to score in his first eight matches for Arsenal, the critics were starting to question the ability and toughness of Thierry Henry. But the Frenchman proved the critics wrong scoring 26 in his inaugural campaign in 1999/2000 and it was this day in soccer history in 2005 that the Frenchman broke Ian Wright's goalscoring record for the Gunners.
Henry achieved the milestone in the UEFA Champions League tie away at Sparta Prague and did it coming on as a substitute. Henry was returning from a six-week injury and was not a definite to be included in Arsene Wenger's squad for the match against Sparta.
Wenger decided to have Henry on the bench and hoped to get him 30-minutes of action late but those plans changed when Jose Antonio Reyes picked up an injury in the 15th minute and Henry came on the pitch.
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Henry wasted no time netting the opening goal six minutes after coming on to draw level with Wright's record. Fortunately for Wright, Henry did not mis-time his celebration. But like Wright, Henry went on to add a second goal in the same match to break the record.
"It sounds great to hear 'Thierry Henry, record goalscorer for Arsenal'," the French striker said after scoring his 186th goal for the Gunners. Wrighty was a great player and will always be a legend at Arsenal. To beat his record is tremendous."
"I wanted to do it at Highbury but if I get the chance to score I'll take it. I was happy to put the ball in the net and delighted to get the record. Their fans didn't realise why I was celebrating like that - I was trying to draw the number 186 in the air."
Wright broke the 50-year-old previous Gunners goal scoring record held Cliff Bastian and probably thought his would last longer than it did but was gracious in passing the honor to Henry.
"He deserves it, he is a fantastic player. He has won everything, apart from the Champions League, which I am praying he can do. It is no mean feat to come second to a player like that. It's not easy for me to say something like that. It couldn't happen to a nicer fella. He is a footballing person. It is all about the football and the fans. It would be different if it was someone you didn't like and he was a horrible person, giving it all the time, but he's not like that."
Henry went on to rack up 226 goals for Arsenal in 380 appearances.
Soccer Birthdays
1969 – Nelson Vivas, Argentine footballer
1973 – Michalis Kapsis, Greek footballer
1974 – Robbie Savage, Welsh footballer
1977 – Ryan Nelsen, New Zealand footballer
Soccer Deaths
2005 – Johnny Haynes, English footballer (b. 1934)
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Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF0v3c_-m04euT03VO-f4wY9grucQ&url=http://www.soccer365.com/today_in_history/95/october_18_henry_sets_arsenal_scoring_record
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