Henry's first hoorah
Arsenal 2 Derby 1
by Ian Grant
FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
With headlines yesterday "Real in turmoil after Anelka refuses the play", Arsenal and Arsene seem to have got it right, again.
Emerging from the post Anelka shadows, is a better footballer, who can head, score with both feet. Alright, he's not as fast over the first few yards, but is more powerful and is more a team player.
This was Thierry Henry's Highbury baptism, celebrated with two goals.
Arsene Wenger explained that the young Frenchman was a little bit down during the re-adjustment from the wings to the centre. But he said he took him to one side, and encouraged him.
The result was a super-charged, confident centre forward. As Arsene Wenger said, his development is crucial to Arsenal's season. Wenger believes that you need pace down the middle to beat Premiership sides.
This match was a test of Arsenal's squad system, if ever there was one. Keown, Ljungberg, Dixon and Vieira were all missing - along with David Seaman, who withdrew before kick-off.
Emmanuel Petit shook off an injury, and played a giant off a game. Grimandi moved forward, with Upson filling in at the back. Adams moved slightly sideways. Luzhny came in for Dixon at right back.
But the new look Arsenal got a nasty shock in the first two minutes, as Nimni and Burton combined, Grimandi, failed to intercept and Sturridge fired hard and low past Manninger.
But history was on Arsenal's side. The last time Arsenal failed to score in a game against Derby was 22 years ago.
And Arsenal soon found the gears.
It only took nine minutes to reply. Marc Overmars took the ball on the right of midfield and a simple ball to Bergkamp looked on. But instead he threaded through a ball down the middle. Henry found himself clear and tucked it clinically past Poom.
Arsenal supporters had waited a long time for Henry to open his home account. And the first thing he did was go to the Clock End crowd to celebrate with them.
And then came a pounding. Derby came under incessant pressure, not helped by giving the ball away too much. Overmars shot hard and low, but Poom dived to his right to save. Petit flashed a dipping free kick over the bar. And Grimandi found himself in a scoring position, after numerous corners, but flashed his shot over.
There was an air of disappointment going in 1-1 at half-time.
But it only took six minutes for Arsenal to go ahead.
Overmars again was the creative provider, sending Henry through. This time he beat Poom with his right foot. And again ran over to the fans in the North Bank to celebrate with them.
With Middlesbrough, Tuesday in mind, Arsene Wenger then tinkered with the attack.
In the space of fifteen minutes, he took off Bergkamp, Henry and Overmars, for Kanu, Suker and Maltz.
Bergkamp had complained of a groin injury at half-time. Marc Overmars looked tired. And Henry needed to be fresh for Tuesday.
Kanu, gave a lacadaisical performance, never seeming to hit first gear, and sometimes losing the ball.
Suker had to work hard to collect passes - at one point, the Derby defence making him look slow.
Maltz, however, could have bagged a couple. He was clean through on the left, but elected to pass, not shoot. And then he fired a rising shot from the edge of the area, which hit the underside of the bar and popped out.
Kinkladze came on with around 20 minutes to go, and proceeded to show how an inside forward 'in the hole' can pose a threat.
He went on a dribble and set up an attack on the left. And then dinked a through ball into space. Until he came on, the Derby attack, excepting occasional link-up play between Burton and Sturridge, had looked weak.
Arsene Wenger said that with ten minutes to go, there was always the threat of a Derby goal, so he re-adjusted, with the addition of Maltz, to more a ball-holding, than 'running into space' game.
Afterwards Arsene Wenger, who must have been deeply satisfied, another 'risk' purchase showed strong signs of delivering said that, Henry's movement and reflexes today showed he has the potential to be a central striker.
He explained that he first became aware of Henry at the FFF national youth centre, and took him to Monaco as a central striker. He was top scorer in the French u-17 charts.
However, Wenger left Monaco, and Sonny Anderson took the central role, and that David Trezeguet came along, meaning that he played wide for most of his early career.
"He has electric pace and physical power - and he can play with Davor, Kanu and Dennis. If he is successful, it will be important for our season."
But although Henry took centre stage, Wenger was also pleased with a couple more of his summer buys. He said Luzhny played his best game for Arsenal. And that Stefan Maltz had developed physically since coming to Highbury and had a very professional attitude. And he WILL play at the Riverside.
Jim Smith didn't come to the post-match press conference, but I asked his deputy Malcolm Crosby which was the hardest side he has played recently - Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.
He said:" Arsenal, and it is not just because I'm here. I was impressed the way they played at our place, and impressed the way they played here. They are a very good side."