THIERRY HENRY – Is the jury still out?

I’ve always held the opinion that Thierry Henry was slightly overrated, even when he was at his peak. This may sound an outrageous comment in the context of what he’s achieved, but I think top players are based on their ability to do something special when it really matters. So what of this outrageous statement you may think? Thierry Henry has won the French Championship, has won two Premierships, two FA Cups, the World Cup (as a squad player), Euro 2000, and played in a Champions League final, not to mention the 2006 World Cup Final.

Now, I want to make it clear, that I am not questioning Henry’s immense ability. Some of the goals he scored, especially in his eight years at Arsenal, were quite simply breathtaking.
However, as I saw him score his diving header in the Stade de Gerland on Tuesday evening, it reminded me of the argument I have had many times over the years with my friends. I have always held the opinion that ‘Thierry Henry is big game bottler’, and there is some proof.

The Frenchman has played in numerous semi finals and finals for club and country, and, excluding the Euro 2000 semi final v Portugal, he has never scored. Granted that game in 2000 was a big match, but that was before he was truly recognized as one of the world’s best strikers, let alone one of the world’s best players.

In 1998, he played in the Champions League semi final for Monaco, but was disappointing and failed to score. In the 1998 World Cup, he did score goals a plenty against mediocre teams in the group stages, but in the knockout stages failed to score, including the semi final against Croatia. Football geeks among you will point out that he was predominantly used as a substitute in that tournament. However, France also regularly went to extra time, and he still proved ineffective.

He was, it must be said, young and raw at this time. He was still playing like an old fashioned winger cum striker, cutting inside at every opportunity. After a disappointing stint at Juventus, he joined Arsenal, where Arsene Wenger transformed him into one of best strikers in the world. He was prolific, two footed, a scorer of long range and short range goals, a creator, free kick taker, penalty taker, corner taker and unequivocal star man. He was also, the the best player in England for probably three years.

However, despite regularly scoring 25 + goals for Arsenal seven seasons in row, he often failed to perform on the big occasion. He failed to score in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, and was largely ineffective. He failed to score in both the 2002 FA Cup semi final and final, and was quiet in both games. Arsenal did win the title that year and Henry was prolific, but, during the title run in, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg were the real heroes, whilst Henry took a back seat, the majority of his goals coming before the spring months. Aged 25 and at the peak of his powers, Henry went to the World Cup finals as arguably the world’s best player, but came back with no goals and a red card as France, the pre- tournament favourites', crashed out in the group stages.

In 2003, Henry again failed to score in both the semi final and final of the FA Cup, again proving ineffective in both games. He also conveniently stopped scoring during the title run in, as Arsenal crumbled under the pressure of Manchester United's late charge. Arsenal led by 7 points at Christmas, with Henry in blistering form.

In 2004, Arsenal lost in the Champions League quarter finals to Chelsea and the semi finals of the FA Cup to Manchester United, with Henry again failing to deliver on the big occasions.
His saving grace however, was his outstanding hat trick versus Liverpool in the following game. It was a crucial game which pretty much delivered the title to Highbury that year. If I had to stick my neck out, I would say that is the one and only game that goes against my theory. Arsenal’s 'untouchable' team of 2003-2004 remained unbeaten all season in the league and was built around the precocious Henry, but the pressure was really on Arsenal in that game, and Henry delivered. He went to Euro 2004, as the best player in Europe, bar none, but, again, he proved a failure and was horribly ineffective in a despicable quarter final defeat to the eventual winners, Greece.

Throughout this time, Henry had, like his team, failed to transfer his awesome domestic form onto the European stage, his team never having gotten past the last eight of the Champions League. However, in 2006, the ‘Fabregas inspired’ Gunners made it to the final in Paris. Henry did not score in the semi final versus Villarreal, or the final against Barcelona. In that final he missed a number of makeable chances. They were chances that, in the ‘run of the mill’ games in the Premiership, he would put have put away with ease..

The 2006 World Cup could be perceived, by many, as being a successful tournament for Henry. France got to the final, and Henry scored the winner against Brazil in the quarter final. This, undoubtedly, was a huge game, they don’t come much bigger. However, in the semi final and final against Portugal and Italy, he again fell short, both in goal scoring terms and his usual, very high level of performance.

Henry’s incredible displays in an Arsenal shirt created a level of expectation almost unrivalled. He is a legend, and probably the club's greatest ever player. He left in 2007, and is now, without doubt, past his brilliant best. The Barcelona team he is currently playing in, however, has a great chance of winning the Champions League. Maybe Henry will finally deliver in that crunch match, on the biggest stage, a Champions League semi final or final. I do have to admit, as I watched the Frenchman throw himself in where it hurts at the far post on Tuesday night, I thought to myself ‘wow, Henry, scoring on the big occasion?’.

This may seem a very harsh assessment of a truly gifted player, who at his peak, was as good as any player I’ve even seen. It could also be said, that he didn’t perform in the biggest games and in the latter stages of seasons because he was tired and had carried his team so much previously. Others may say, that he was often marked out of and kicked out of these massive games. Maybe he was a target and was picked upon.

No player is untouchable, and I still feel Henry needs to prove his temperament when it really matters. He is not the main man anymore, Lionel Messi is. Maybe this season is Henry’s time to prove to any lingering doubters that he is the man for the big occasion. I do though, still have my doubts. I believe his time has passed.