Inter 1-5 Arsenal: A look back on one of Thierry Henry's finest nights

Liam Williams Published: 05 Nov 24 11:11

One of the greatest players of his generation, Thierry Henry spent a decade tormenting defenders all throughout England and Europe.

When he was in the mood, Henry was – quite simply – unstoppable.

In his time at Arsenal he was supported by the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars and Robert Pires, but when Henry flipped the switch, team-mates and opponents alike were rendered irrelevant. He was the 5-a-side player who you couldn’t get near; he was the Sunday league player you suspected was a year older than his team-mates.

In full flow, Henry became a force of nature. Tottenham experienced it, Leeds United experienced it, even Real Madrid experienced it, and on the night of 25th November 2003, Inter would experience it.

It was the season of Arsenal’s title-winning Invincibles, but they’d already lost two games in Europe, against Dynamo Kyiv and at home to Inter, going down 3-0.

When arriving at the San Siro, Arsenal were bottom of Group B with just four points from four games. They were four behind Lokomotiv Moscow, who’d beaten Dynamo Kyiv earlier that evening, and three behind Inter, who already had a 3-0 win up their sleeves should they finish level on points with the Gunners.

Inter had also lost just twice at home in the previous 12 months – both to Italian and European champions Milan.

To make matters that bit more challenging, Arsenal were without skipper Vieira, as well as Lauren and Sylvain Wiltord, while the non-flying Dutchman Bergkamp remained at home.

Inter would line up with a back three of Ivan Cordoba, Marco Materazzi and Fabio Cannavaro. Cordoba would be part of the Inter side that won five titles in a row as well as the UEFA Champions League; Materazzi would be part of the same side as well as Italy’s 2006 World Cup winners, and Cannavaro needs no introduction.

A draw with Inter would mean as long as they beat Lokomotiv Moscow at home, and Inter didn’t lose to Dynamo Kyiv away, Arsenal would sneak through. A draw in the circumstances, in the San Siro, would’ve been fine.

Henry had other ideas.

Although Inter had the better of the opening exchanges, a promising attack down the left saw Ashley Cole and Pires link up with Henry. Henry would exchange a dizzying one-two with Cole before slotting home first time from the edge of the area.

Recognising the significance of the occasion, Henry’s initial celebration called for calm from his team-mates before leaping into the air: Arsenal led in the San Siro.

Inter would equalise through Christian Vieri, whose shot took a wicked, looping deflection off Sol Campbell over a helpless Jens Lehmann to send the sides in level at half-time.

Quickly after the break, a loose pass by Vieri fell to the feet of Henry who took on Materazzi. Cutting inside onto his right then chopping back onto his left, Henry found Freddie Ljungberg free in the six-yard box to restore Arsenal’s lead.

After what had been an unspectacular game up to that point, Henry turned things up a notch. Cordoba and Materazzi were Henry’s unwitting victims as the Frenchman alternated between the pair, toying with each, turning them both inside out with frightening footwork and speed, but he was unable to add a third.

With the game entering the final 10 minutes and Inter chasing an equaliser, however, Henry was unleashed.

Like a greyhound out of the traps, Henry would coast past Javier Zanetti. Perhaps the right decision would have been to have shot as soon as he got into the area, but Henry wasn’t just playing the tune but conducting the orchestra. He’d do things his way, in his own time.

Slowing down to cut back inside onto his right foot and allowing Zanetti the chance to catch up, Henry went back down the line onto his left, and from an angle seemingly too tight to shoot from – especially on his weaker foot – Henry fired an utterly devastating effort past Julio Cesar, in off the far post.

It was a truly special moment from a truly special player, but he wasn’t finished yet.

With the game as good as over, Henry collected the ball on the right wing, superbly spotting the run of Ljungberg through the middle. The ball would evade everybody with the onrushing Cesar doing enough to put the Swede off, but Edu popped up at the back post to tap in a fourth.

Inter 1-4 Arsenal. Two goals from Henry; two assists from Henry.

Arsene Wenger removed his talisman, allowing him a moment to receive his rightful adulation for his night’s work from the awestruck Arsenal fans.

His replacement, Jeremie Aliadiere, was left to chase a hopeful ball down the right channel, but when Jeremie Brechet made a hash of things, Aliadiere found Pires in the area, and though he needed two bites of the cherry, it would be 5-1 to Arsenal.

It was a result that would see Arsenal go from staring down the barrel of group stage elimination to going through as group winners.

25th November 2003 was one of Arsenal’s greatest European nights; a night where Arsenal went to the San Siro and didn’t just beat Inter, but pulverised them into submission.

It was night where Henry was, quite simply, unstoppable.