Henry the returning hero

Henry netting last night winner against Leeds United

If the excitement surrounding the return of a hero hadn't already been stirred up enough, the antics of last night have certainly whipped a furore around the Emirates.  The sight of Thierry Henry netting a 78th minute winner just ten minutes after taking to the field has captured the imagination of football fans worldwide.  Well, all except a small pocket of Yorkshire where thousands thought their team were to gain a reply aginst Arsenal for the second season running.

Already immortalised outside the stadium of his beloved club, the Frenchman's celebration exuded the sheer delight of scoring on his second debut.  Arsene Wenger summed up the situation saying:  "He is a special player, he was already a legend here and he just added a bit more to the whole story."

While Henry himself remarked:  "I came back from holiday 15 days ago. I never thought I was going to play for Arsenal again or score a winner. "I don't know what to say. I love the club and I hope I can do more.
"I hope it won't be the last one. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing.
"I rejoined the club as a fan; before I wasn't. 
"Scoring a goal when you support the team, now I know how some of the guys who played for Liverpool or Man United or Chelsea felt when they scored a goal for the club they support."

Celebrating for New York Red Bulls

Doubts were raised when the news inevitably broke.  Weren't their more appropraite younger options available who would be a benefit for the longer term, and how would so many of the squad cope playing with someone they openly admit is a hero.  All that though has already been dispelled, and Simon Garyson's remark that it was "written in the stars" for Henry to grab the winner summing up the occasion.

The way in which he left in 2007 is now well and truly forgotten, when rumors of squad fall outs led to his desire to move on to Barcelona.  His 227th goal in 371 appearances, including 12 in 12 against Leeds, is surely going to be added to during his two month loan spell from New York Red Bulls.

Whatever rollercoaster is ahead during this stint, it will be a pleasure to watch a master at work at a club which will forever be in his heart.

The USA - football's care home!

As another player drifts across the pond, the debate once again begins to rage.

Thierry Henry has joined David Beckham in America, three years after the Englishman skipped across the Atlantic and into the arms of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

What both these moves have in common is one thing, they both show a distinct lack of ambition.

Fair enough Beckham wasn't getting treated fairly at Real Madrid, so it was kind of understandable when he thought his time was up.

He will never admit he regrets it, but his time on loan at AC Milan will certainly have eaten away at him and show the seeds of regret have begun to sow.

The Frenchman will no doubt feel a similar sense of regret after a year or two, glancing back over the pond thinking 'if only'.

He will rack up a ridiculous goal tally in America, as the circus show that his career will become trails around from one city to the next.

His new side the New York Red Bulls, were one of the MLS' worst ever performers last season, so this a major coup for them.

A major name can work wonders, on paper, but the craze could soon ware off as it did in Beckham's case.

As previously mentioned it is not a as if these two didn't have European offers, but they chose the more lucrative, meaning a higher wage, option.

It should be a disappointing site to all football fans, that these stars who still have a lot to offer don't mind wasting the end of their careers.

Ryan Giggs at 35 become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also claimed the PFA Players of the Year award for his displays last season.

Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham are example of strikers who continued well into their twilight, so what is the fad of 'cracking America'.

It seems any player entering their 30s and nearing the end of their contract is linked with a move to USA, to take their 'brand' and try to improve the view of 'soccer'.

The quotes used upon the announcement also bring about a state of deja vu:

“I want to promote football in America. It is the world’s greatest sport and will be big in America soon,”

If neither Pele or George Best could muster this feat it is unlikely that Henry will have much of an impact.

It seems that we will have to admit that passion and ambition are now a thing of the past, a quick buck in a footballers twilight is the new dream.