Thierry Henry had pace, power, skill and finishing, and at his best he could take apart a defence on his own. Arsenal's number 14 was the most complete forward England had seen, and in his prime he was close to impossible to stop.
He knew how to celebrate it too. The knee-slide at Highbury is one of the most replayed images in Premier League history.
A record that has lasted
- 228 goals for Arsenal, the most in the club's 137-year history
- Two Premier League titles, including the Invincibles season in which Arsenal went 49 games unbeaten
- The 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France
- Player of the Year twice as voted by his fellow professionals, and Footballer of the Year three times as voted by the writers
For several seasons he was the best player in the world. He ruled English football with speed, skill and cold finishing, and many rank him as the greatest striker the Premier League has had. Defenders of the time tend not to argue.
Tomorrow: number 25.
