Main d’un dieu?

By: Martin | November 18th, 2009

It’s not strictly Arsenal-related, I know, but by now I’m sure you’ve all seen the controversial goal which put France into the 2010 World Cup.

If you haven’t: there was a cross into the box which fizzed past the far post, and looked like it was headed over the touchline for a goal kick. But off one hop, it hit the arm of Thierry Henry, and deflected back into play in a perfect spot for him to center it directly into the path of the oncoming William Gallas, who headed home the winning goal. Two former Gunner captains combining for the golden goal. Ireland, who played bravely and who would have otherwise gone to penalty kicks for the right to go to the World Cup, feel aggrieved. And I absolutely, positively sympathize with them. To come so far, to play so well against a more talented team on their home field, only to be sent home by a goal which should have been disallowed…Well, that’s just awful (not the mention UEFA’s decision to adopt the seeding system for the playoffs after qualification had already started, which was complete b.s.). And I know they’re hurting today. Just to be clear–the goal shouldn’t have counted, and Henry could very well have been (justifiably) carded.

But I’m writing this because I think once the European/English media gets a chance to react to it tomorrow, we’re going to hear terms like “cheat” applied to Thierry Henry. The state of the modern/online media and blogosphere is that whoever can write the most controversial/provocative thing is going to get the most attention, so I fully expect to read outlandish pieces calling for Henry to retire from international play, admit to cheating, be banned, etc. Unfortunately, it’s the nature of the beast. But the bottom line is this–the play we got to watch over and over again in super slow motion happened to him instantaneously. He had to make a decision, which was more pure reflex than anything else. But the media tomorrow might try to interpret this as some premeditated decision which reflects poor judgment and/or malicous intent on his part. It was not.

Now. I’m not saying he was right, and I’m not saying the goal should have stood. But I’m a full-grown adult, who probably shouldn’t have football players as role models, but I do. And # 1 on that list in Thierry Henry. And it’s not just because of how great he was on the field, but it’s because of the character and class he showed off the field over the course of many years as a Gunner. We know that. We remember that. When the Lilliputian scene of hundreds of small, petty “journalists” and bloggers trying to take down a true giant of a man takes place tomorrow, I would urge all Arsenal fans, and all football fans in general, to reflect on the fact that what happened yesterday is completely incongruous with what we’ve seen from Henry over the course of the last decade or so:

I guess all I’m trying to say is that I think the haters may be out in force tomorrow, but no matter what they say, we all know that Thierry Henry was always, is, and will always be a class act, through and through. And we’ll never forget it.