Henry back with a bang

PARIS – A Thierry Henry double for Arsenal on his return from injury lit up Tuesday’s Champions League programme which also served up sweet revenge for Bayern Munich over old foes Juventus.

Henry showed just what a priceless asset he is when making a surprise return after a five-week layoff to seal Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Sparta Prague with goals in either half. His brace made him Arsenal’s all-time record scorer with 186 goals, one clear of the former mark held by Ian Wright.”I think the fans of Sparta Prague maybe didn’t realise why I was like that making signs to our fans trying to draw the 186,” said Henry.”It was an important game for us.We showed some great character after the defeat by West Brom (in the Premiership at the weekend).”Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who unleashed his prize weapon off the bench in the 15th minute, said: “I hadn’t realised that Thierry was in such excellent form! “He wanted to play and the quick goal really helped him and the team.”Already today Thierry is a legend, but at 28 years old he still has a lot in front of him.”The French striker’s brilliance pushed Arsenal a sizeable step closer to the knockout stages with the Gunners running away with Group B at the midway stage.This third successive win leaves them on nine points, five clear of second-placed Ajax who beat Swiss minnows FC Thun 2-0 in Amsterdam thanks to goals from Greek striker Yannis Anastasiou.Bayern Munich are also sitting pretty on nine points atop of Group A after seeing off Juventus 2-1.After losing twice to the Italian giants in last season’s group stage this was a result to savour.Two goals inside eight minutes from German international Sebastian Deisler and Argentine Martin Demichelis helped Bayern defeat the Italians for the first time in European competition.The result though rather than revenge was uppermost on Bayern manager Felix Magath’s mind afterwards.”The most important thing is that we have beaten a top team in Juventus,” he beamed.”I have already said we can do a lot in the Champions League this season.But we have to make sure we are more ruthless if we are to achieve in Europe.”His Juve counterpart Fabio Capello paid tribute to the Germans.”There was a great performance from Demichelis that really helped out the Bayern midfield and he was crucial for them.”Capello added: “There are some nights when everything goes your way and some when it doesn’t, and this wasn’t our game.I was most disappointed with our lack of aggression as that is normally one of our characteristics.”In the other Group A fixture FC Bruges came away from a visit to Rapid Vienna with a 1-0 win, their first in this campaign to leave the Belgians third on three points.At Old Trafford Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by French visitors Lille in a game notable only for the sending-off of Paul Scholes and a Ryan Giggs free-kick that hit the post.Giggs came away from his 100th game on the European stage with a fractured cheekbone.A total of six players were booked in a scrappy encounter watched by 60,000 frustrated supporters, although Lille’s small band of fans appeared pleased with the point.United head Group D with a one point lead from Benfica, who drew 1-1 at Villarreal.In Athens plucky Panathinaikos held Spanish giants Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at the Olympic stadium, the stalemate leaving Frank Rijkaard’s millionaires heading Group C on seven points, three clear of Udinese, who drew 1-1 with German champions Werder Bremen.-Nampa-AFPHis brace made him Arsenal’s all-time record scorer with 186 goals, one clear of the former mark held by Ian Wright.”I think the fans of Sparta Prague maybe didn’t realise why I was like that making signs to our fans trying to draw the 186,” said Henry.”It was an important game for us.We showed some great character after the defeat by West Brom (in the Premiership at the weekend).”Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who unleashed his prize weapon off the bench in the 15th minute, said: “I hadn’t realised that Thierry was in such excellent form! “He wanted to play and the quick goal really helped him and the team.”Already today Thierry is a legend, but at 28 years old he still has a lot in front of him.”The French striker’s brilliance pushed Arsenal a sizeable step closer to the knockout stages with the Gunners running away with Group B at the midway stage.This third successive win leaves them on nine points, five clear of second-placed Ajax who beat Swiss minnows FC Thun 2-0 in Amsterdam thanks to goals from Greek striker Yannis Anastasiou.Bayern Munich are also sitting pretty on nine points atop of Group A after seeing off Juventus 2-1.After losing twice to the Italian giants in last season’s group stage this was a result to savour.Two goals inside eight minutes from German international Sebastian Deisler and Argentine Martin Demichelis helped Bayern defeat the Italians for the first time in European competition.The result though rather than revenge was uppermost on Bayern manager Felix Magath’s mind afterwards.”The most important thing is that we have beaten a top team in Juventus,” he beamed.”I have already said we can do a lot in the Champions League this season.But we have to make sure we are more ruthless if we are to achieve in Europe.”His Juve counterpart Fabio Capello paid tribute to the Germans.”There was a great performance from Demichelis that really helped out the Bayern midfield and he was crucial for them.”Capello added: “There are some nights when everything goes your way and some when it doesn’t, and this wasn’t our game.I was most disappointed with our lack of aggression as that is normally one of our characteristics.”In the other Group A fixture FC Bruges came away from a visit to Rapid Vienna with a 1-0 win, their first in this campaign to leave the Belgians third on three points.At Old Trafford Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by French visitors Lille in a game notable only for the sending-off of Paul Scholes and a Ryan Giggs free-kick that hit the post.Giggs came away from his 100th game on the European stage with a fractured cheekbone.A total of six players were booked in a scrappy encounter watched by 60,000 frustrated supporters, although Lille’s small band of fans appeared pleased with the point.United head Group D with a one point lead from Benfica, who drew 1-1 at Villarreal.In Athens plucky Panathinaikos held Spanish giants Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at the Olympic stadium, the stalemate leaving Frank Rijkaard’s millionaires heading Group C on seven points, three clear of Udinese, who drew 1-1 with German champions Werder Bremen.-Nampa-AFP