Sparta Prague - 0 Arsenal - 2: No wonder Arsène Wenger had been counting the days. English football has been the poorer for Thierry Henry's absence and the Arsenal captain is determined to prove it. On his return in Prague last night he scored the goals that helped him overtake Ian Wright's all-time scoring record of 185 for the Gunners.
It is overplaying Arsenal's situation to say, as Tottenham's Martin Jol did at the weekend, that "without Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry they are just another team", since a Premiership match against the Gunners naturally elicits extra motivation from opponents. But such is the genius of Henry that he casts a shadow even from the sidelines.
Last night his light shone again for Arsenal with a goal of breathtaking ingenuity after just six minutes on the pitch. Kolo Touré, as destructive of Sparta in his defensive work as he was in providing the source of the devastating move, sent the ball forward to Henry. With the deftness of a natural football artist, Henry cushioned the ball with the back of his heel, swivelling and releasing it with the outside of his right foot.
Jaromir Blazek was flummoxed as the sidespin on Henry's shot brought it into the net when it had seemed to be heading wide.
Clearly Arsenal's reliance on one player is to their detriment, and Henry's previous imperviousness to injury has haunted them this season. When Wenger watches Chelsea and ruminates on their 12-month run of unbeaten efficiency, he rues the developments of the past two years.
As Arsenal discovered at West Bromwich, the fading of such an awe-inspiring aura has doubly damaging consequences. No longer do Arsenal command respect to such a degree that they may justifiably carry the moniker of "invincibles". Indeed, as West Brom's victory celebrations showed, they have merely become highly-valued quarry.
For Sparta, no such impetus should have been required. Under their new manager, Stanislav Griga, the Czechs arrested a four-match losing streak on Saturday, but their prior ills had left them anxious for Champions League points. Just as a win for Arsenal was likely to put them within a point of progression to the knockout phase, defeat here would effectively eliminate Sparta.
Arsenal almost had a platform from which to achieve that in the first minute as a long pass down the wing allowed Cesc Fabregas to chase, but the angle for the Spanish teenager's shot was too acute to trouble Blazek. Sparta's high defensive line also allowed Jose Antonio Reyes a run on goal but his weak shot was easily thwarted.
Rather than defend against Reyes, Sparta chose instead to kick him. It was a foolish policy, since it opened the door to Henry's participation. And how he punished them. Introduced as Reyes was withdrawn after Martin Petras had crumpled the Spaniard, Henry vented the frustration of 38 days' inactivity with one swift kick of the football.
Arsenal were comfortable but soon to be discomfited. Pascal Cygan, preferred in Europe to Philippe Senderos, whose defending could not match his goal-scoring against West Brom, misjudged his header, permitting Zdenek Pospech a close-range shot that pulled a smart save from Jens Lehmann.
With the goal advantage and with Henry aboard, Wenger could afford to retreat Robin van Persie into the midfield. It offered Arsenal more security and Henry was even willing to offer his talents in defence, too.
Wenger can now take heart from his side's unblemished European record. Henry continued to illuminate the night and the goal that broke Wright's record almost seemed to be incidental. Taking Robert Pires's pass, he avoided his marker and slipped it beyond Blazek.
Guardian Service
SPARTA PRAGUE: Blazek, Pergl (Matusovic 70), Petrous, Lukas, Kadlec, Petras, Pospech, Zelenka, Kisel, Polacek, Slepicka (Dosek 77). Subs not used: Bicik, Hasek, Herzan, Loucka, Jeslinek. Booked: Lukas.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Clichy, Fabregas (Owusu-Abeyie 89), Flamini, Silva, Pires, Van Persie (Eboue 73), Reyes (Henry 15). Subs not used: Almunia, Song Billong, Senderos, Larsson. Booked: Van Persie, Clichy. Goals: Henry 21, 74. Attendance: 12,528.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
