Everything about the goal was perfection the buildup, the execution, the style the grace, and the sheer beauty as the unstoppable ball spun and curved past the despairing goalkeeper. Toure after some Sparta pressure gave the most exquisite long-distance pass to the feet of Henry, who controlled the ball, while running with it, deliberately positioning him self in the best area to beat the goalkeeper. Sparta defenders looking bemused backed off, assuming that Henry would continue to head into the penalty area, or that they would get a chance to block him a bit later. Fatal error; given that much space, Henry using his right foot caressed and placed the ball between the few inches wide of the goalkeeper's fingers, but just inside the far post. The accuracy and beauty of the shot was breathtaking, if you are to lose your goalscoring record you would want to lose it to a goal like that.

 Henry celebrated as if he had just scored against Real Madrid to the bemusement of the Sparta fans, they properly couldn't understand why anyone would celebrate so loudly and long on scoring against a side as mediocre as theirs. Perhaps they thought it was something to do with the stand up against racism campaign, I do hope so. They might have stolen Arsenal's sacred season colours but that was all they got away with. It has to be said they were a poor opposition, but until Henry came on it was not certain how quickly we would score. It is fair to say, however, that the defence, apart from Clichy, were well in control for most of the game, and that the midfield were doing an adequate job. True there were one or two errors but, for the most part, we were always in control and the result never looked in doubt.

In the second half Clichy recovered, and became more effective, and at one stage blocking Sparta from scoring in the penalty area in what was quite a tricky situation. Toure was immense, Cygan had a competent game keeping his curse well under control. Pires who had a poor first half played a different role in the second, changing wings and often playing deep in the middle. Indeed it was from within the hole that he gave Henry a magical pass that Thierry was able to spoon over the keeper, crowning himself the supreme Arsenal goalscorer of all time. There was no inhibition from Henry on this occasion as he celebrated, and making it known how much it meant to him. He wished he had done it at Highbury but when you have to score you have to score.