henry will always be a legend. this is just a small stain in his white shirt and everyone is bound to have one or two.
i dont like what he did but if it were me i would have done the same. its about the system not the player.
these decisions have gone against the gunners for a very long time. henry himself asked where the justice was when he was cheated out of the FA cup like that?

WE LOVE U THIERY HENRY. WE ALWAYS WILL.

Thierry Henry is an Arsenal legend and always will be. What he did was cheating but any player in the world would have done it. What would have happened if Rooney did it for an England player to score to get England into the World Cup. Thierry has admitted what he did and the French Football Association need to make a decision and not leave him to hang out to dry

What shite you talk !!! Henry will always be a legend for Arsenal, do you know what history is ? Henry played for Arsenal in the past he plays for Barca now, so what has that got to do with us ??? If he played for us now you may have a point but he left several years ago so get over it.

Henry should be put in the same dustbin as every player who has committed a foul and not fessed up to the ref after the play went his way. How many players put their hands up to con the ref a good goal was offside. Worse than a reflexive handball in extra time in a huge match. Just saw a great vid of Gerrard dives. Say no more. Up the Arse

ed71afc, did you even read the article or just the headline before you commented? It never fails... when you blog something with a sarcastic headline, all the idiots who can't be bothered to read but want to comment get exposed...

Great article.
All the Henry haters should go f*!k off.

thierry henry is a legend
what gooner can forget the 7 amazing years he gave us over a decesion that he made in a split second for his country
do me a favour
fuck em all, fuck em all

thierry henry theierry henry

If it was England v Ireland and Rooney controlled it with his hand and crossed for Terry to knock in all of these hypocrites that are slating Henry wouldn't say a thing. The press in this country seem to have an agenda against Arsenal. Anyone remember the Eduardo dive? Yet when Rooney or Gerrard or Owen, Drogba or Ronaldo dive not a word is said. What happens if the game is replayed and then next week someone scores a winner from a goal thats offside? Do we replay that too?

TH14 True Arsenal Legend and always will be. Any true Gooner will never say anything against that man!!! Why would you care more about Ireland than Arsenal unless you're Irish even then you should be more annoyed with the Ref, The Linesman and FIFA.

I think france should agree to replay the match for the sake of fair play. However, i am appalled by the medias comparesasing of Henry and Maradonna, labeling the insident "hand of god 2"...WTF?!?! we are talking about to legends who made a handball, similarities pretty much stop there..henry admitted the handball (in a group stage match) and was ashamed, while maradonna claimed his handball (in the quater-finals) to be a work of god so don't try to tell me it's the fucking same!

If it was France against Belgium it wouldn't even have been reported outside the column inches of the match report. One incident in a game between two foreign team.
No disrespect to the Irish, I am sure they are livid; but how much sleep did they lose in Mexico 1986.
Anyway why is a hand ball more outragous than a set of players that persistantly and purpously foul the opposistion every time they gain posession knowing that the team they are playing likes to play footbal and doesn't like the physical stuff. Its all cheating.

He is a true legend. That's all.

henry will always be an Arsenal legend

Im Irish a massive Arsenal fan and will forever love Henry, what happened happened in a split second.
First of all in Extra time who in their right minds lets a ball hop the the six yard box, who in their right minds leaves Thierry Henry unmarked and all the chances we had to win the game in 90 mins and they bottled it.

You feel sorry for the endeviour and work shift put in by the players like Lawerence,Duff,Dunne and Doyle but at the end of the day work rate and ebdeviour will only ever get you so far.. All the best to France and Henry will never be stained in my opinion. Hope he adds another World Cup to his trophy cabinet.

Ronaldo's and Rooney's diving, and Gerrad's cheating
made no difference how they are treated by Manure and Pool.

HENRY WILL ALWAYS BE A LEGEND,IM OVER IT NOW,WE GOT SCREWED IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK IN FOOTBALL ITS ALWAYS SOMTHING BUT THIS WAS A HUGH MATCH FOR MY COUNTRY AND EVERY1 IS GUTTED IT WAS TAKEN AWAY BY A OBVIOUS HANDBALL. MY THEORY ON THE GOAL IS THE REF DIDNT SEE IT AND GAVE THE GOAL STRAIGHT AWAY THE LINESMAN SAW IT BUT BOTTLED IT OVER THE CROWD,FUCKN ROBBED

Thierry Henry is the best striker of his generation no doubt about it.

The reaction to the goal here is disgraceful, with some media sources saying he should be suspended fr a lengthy period and should be banned from playing in the world cup. What a joke

Double standards here I think. The same media sources when reviewing Roy Keanes horror tackle on alf inge halland said "it was a bit rash" and get the best part, "the english media are over reacting"

As for the man himself, he was big enough to say tday the fairest outcome would be to replay the game. Sounds fair? but some sources here in Ireland want the game replayed in a NEUTRAL venue...............

Regarding the world cup, the way the English press have supported the call for a replay and their honesty over the incident, I know who I will be supporting in SOuth Africa.

I think too that every Irish man, woman and child should support Engalnd in the world cup

The Irish media werent so supportive of England when Maradonna put them out of the world cup with that hand of God goal, but when it happens against us, there is uproar, with even the leader, and i use that word lightly, of this great country of ours, getting involved, trying to make a political issue of it.

Cheers

Henry has done the honourable thing by appealing for a replay. At least now the whole world can get off his back. My question is what were the Irish players doing ? Instead of defending the ball they were rather busy appealing. Shows lack of experience. I hope they are given a good thumping by France in case there was a replay. That will serve them right

This is nothing to do with the Henry vs Ireland spat. But Darren Fletcher has had an interview in some Manure rag called United we stand, where he says

"I’m going to ask you: ‘Do you fancy it? Do you like getting kicked? Do you like the fact that I am going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes?

YouJock prick, you've just confirmed Wengers statement about you been a hatchet man. Where in the game is "getting kicked" a part of it. You two bit mug. 18 year old Ramsay showed you for what you are when you played against Wales.

Arsenal still have a large Irish support? I know they did in the 70s when North London had a high proportion of Irish residents, especially in the Camden area and we'd just signed Brady, O'leary and Stapleton. But I went to the France v Ireland game in Paris about 5 years ago and the Irish supporters were booing all the French Arsenal supporters. The Irish fans sitting next to us said it was because 90% of the Irish supported Man Utd or Liverpool and hated Arsenal.
I'm disappointed by Henry's handball, but he's still a legend and I'm shocked by the reaction. Saying that the world is going to remember him for the handball and not his football in nonsense, in the same way people don't remember Maradona for the handball. Only the English do.

If it was Wayne Rooney they would say it's "BRILLIANT"!!!

We've got Sunderland away on Saturday,folks.Any points dropped there would create an unreasonable disadvantage for us in our efforts to knock chelski off their perch once and for all.Legend TH14 returns to bizness as usual in Barstardelona,as they continue their tapping of New legend Cesc and Robbie Keane will maintain that the Spurms are better than us.Sod them all,enough of this World cup crap! Who would want to support an Engerland team made up of such an ugly bunch: Cashley,Terribollox,Defile,Lampoon,Barry-ha!,fat-boy Rooney and Jamesy??@!#$
I was there in '66 andI will never support this team.
Come on Saint Eduardo,it's time you knocked in a hat trick!!

Henry cheat, Henry this, Henry that, yes it's not nice to lose a game like that in a big competion, it happened to Arsenal, to other teams and will carry on happening. Why does the Irish think that they would have won the game when they were'nt even winning or leading! Ireland think they are perfect and better than anyone else. I wonder if the same big deal would have been made if Keane had touched the ball and scored or would he come forward and said yes I touched the ball and let's go for a replay, of which I strongly doubt it!!
During the WC qualifications Ireland have been lucky too and getting through. Against France yes they played good by defending (typical italian mentality) then counter attack and go for long balls. Both games were like watching Arsenal trying to play their beautiful football against team that just defend and not allowing Arsenal to pass the ball andfrustrate them.
But blaming and slating Henry is very unfair as Ireland have done it in the pass and would have taken the same chances as France did.
We see that kind of lucky win week in, week out in the PL or any other league. Having cameras will not be the same again for football but I would agree with a ref behind the goal though, which would have been perfect for that situation. Henry did touch the ball and I believe it to be unintentional due to the speed of the ball. The linesman and the ref saw and decided otherwise not Henry.
I walk around London and I hear people talking about mixed feeling about Henry - the problem is that this story is so much Media led that they are making us think what they want us to think and making loads of money on this story.
It happened to England v Argentina 1/4 final 1986 and it took diego ages to admit that it was a handball - although if France are accepting a replay, then Argentina should do a replay too against England - so why don't we get all the players of 1986 possibly now or well in their fifties for a replay???!!!
Had England been in the situation of France they too would have accepted it. Whatever it is HENRY WE STILL LOVE YOU and STILL AN ARSENAL LEGEND!!!

I am Irish and very proud to be so. I am also an Arsenal fan and even more proud of that. The Henry incident shocked me when it happened and it rocked me. I was disappointed that my country was going to be knocked out of the World Cup by a goal like that. My bigger shock is the crap that came after. The hate towards Henry, the media etc etc. In my opinion and i am entitled to this more than most, is i think Thierry henry acted on instinct, you dont set out as the ball was coming in that he was going to handle it. The ref didn't see it as he was not positioned properly so how can you blame him. Supposingly the linesman had a good view and probably didnt react to it.

I dont think for one moment that there was a conspiracy to get France in. I dont think the ref "gave" them a goal as he could have easily given a penalty for the tackle on Anelka earlier.
Ireland were 1 down in the group stages to Georgia and were in seriou trouble and got a terrible penalty decision and went onto to win the game. Did Georgia create the same fuss, no. Its life. Its part of the game. We have seen henry booked for handball in Russia a couple of years back which was an utter disgrace which was later proven. We lost an FA cup to a handball v liverpool.
If Ireland got a replay it would be a fantastic gesture on the French behalf but as this coulmn is about Henry, i have no problem in the world with Mr Henry. There are enough haters out there but i aint one. He is not a cheat and is still one of the best players ever, if not the best to wear our shirt.

I agree with your final sentiments. The Irish fans cannot really talk. The last time we were in th efinals we were the laughing stock of the world with the whole Mick MacCarthy - Roy keane incident. I was proud of Roy Kenaes statement tonight and his defence of Thierry henry and his character.
Long live henry. Henry is King

One bad decision made in a split second should not and will not tarnish a player who is a god to so many , its a mark of the man that when his team mates were celebrating victory Thierry le god looked totally crushed because he knew he had made a mistake and he has been man enough to admit it, even suggesting a replay .
Thierry you are and always will be my hero your actions in the past have given me more happiness than any than any other sports person dont listen too the narrow minded idiots who call you a cheat , if they found they were in the same position they`d do the same as an arsenal fan for 35 years i would celebrate your return as if we had won the champions league ........ HERO FOREVER THIERRY LE GOD

What is it about the English media and
and their ability to spout utter shite. Headlines in the sun and crap spouted on Talk Shite suggests these guys would sink to any depths to sell a few more papers or grab a few more listeners regardless even if it means destroying a persons reputation for one simple mistake. Did TT handle the ball....yes... Was it cheating...yes...was he wrong not to admit it to the ref...yes..did he put his hands up after...yes , yes , yesss! So what the fuck it happens. Like Edu, he's not the first to have duped a ref intentionally or otherwise and won't be the last. You go back through games over the years and the list of high profile players who have 'bent' the rules in their favour reads like a list of who's who. Rooney,Gerard, Lampard, Ronaldo, Pires, Zidane, Beckham,
Klinsman, Maradona, Russian Geezer '66........ The list goes on. What have these all got in common...they didn't get as much stick or mass hysteria created as what was done to Edu and now TT. I am as gutted for the Irish as if I was Irish myself , but like Keano quite rightly said the French won so lets move on. Maybe next time the boot will
be on the other foot or even hand if you prefer.. Long live King Henry

GunnerSince79, RESPECT! Well said and I wish all or at least the majority of people would think like you, cheers

the media are a bunch of parasites trying to destroy a true genius if ireland had someone of Thierry`s class they would have taken their chances and been out of sight

im irish and that does not matter .. i sang his name after, thierry henry goooner4life.. nothing can damage him certainly not that

I'm amazed that Henry is labeled a "cheat" as if he had intentionally thought-out the handball. The ball was smoked into the box and instincts took over. Furthermore, to suggest that Henry should have immediately run to the ref to profess a handball is complete and utter shite. No fan, I mean no fan would have done that if they were in Henry's shoes....so get over yourselves. Luckily, you guys have the replay to view 100 times in slow motion to pass judgement. Football is played at break-neck speed and to rely on one ref and a sideline judge 50 yards away to call a perfect match is simply asking too much. Until video replay or extra refs are introduced this won't be the last incident of this sort....not to mention the solution wouldn't resolve each and every disputed call/non-call.

Thierry in my mind will always be welcome back.....he only did what any other player would have done. He isnt a bloody criminal. Im sick of all this media hype!!!!

i think our players showed the way this should be handled,with dignity
we were screwed.cest la vie.as for henry...he knows and hates it

ok..ok.. im irish, and was sick to the pits of my stomach with the way we were "cheated" our chance... the arsenal has been on the back of many a bad decision, and this can be the catapult to ensure this type of shit doesent happen so often... and if tt and the french feelso bad about it, then they can ask for a replay.. if they dont, well they dont...but you should really change the title of your post, as not everyone will read it all, and some people will use it against what you are saying... please, as an irish fan and a fan of the king of arsenal, im willing to accept that 100 times slowed replays make instictive reactions look blatent and cruel... and im clutching to believe that tt is telliing the truth. please change ur title, and dont abuse your support of the gunners to get hits on newsnow.... cheers.

The more this shit is going on the more i hate the english press, what is wrong with them, yes, what Henry did was wrong, this innocent guy came out and said he was sorry, i knew he was ashamed of what happened, then so, this is football, because his french not british, if Rooney did that or Gerald or one of the British footballer, what would the press says, absolutely nothing, they always make fools of them selves all the time.

Once you are not a brtish and you did something that every footballers does on the pitch every day, the british press would demands for your head, Eduardo case was one example, Rooney did the same agianst Arsenal, what next? then they were all blind they couldn't see it then, Rooney cheats everyday on the pitch, what happened nothing, say what you like, Henry is legend, and he would for ever he would be, thank God the british are in world cup next year, i promise you, you will all see what will happen, i bet it, Rooney will do something that is outragious then we shall see the english press then, usless set of people. Write what you like, say what ever, Henry is the man, and british can never produce a player like him, keep jealous.

I felt sorry for Irish people, because those guys deserved to be in world cup, they played briliantly, to me what happened was meant to happened, i will like to ask some Irish one question, if that incident suppose to be other way round, and Keane did what Henry did and they qaulified for world cup. would they take the result or not? because Robben Keane can do the same, he is a player who capable of doing the samething.

They had two or three chances, they suppose to have won the match but they didn't, so, let go on men, Henry is not to blame, but Refree and the linesman are responsible, if the refree blew his trumipet that day agianst Henry, Henry would not say the refree was wrong, so whose fault.

As a fellow blogger, even I got duped into assuming what your article is about. So I actually sympathise with the guys who have ripped you to shreds for something you haven't actually written. Having read the article, I agree with the general gist of what you say. But consider your headlines a bit better next time.

Otherwise, good read.

-Jammathon

Coming from an Irish man, i will never hold what happened last wednesday against Thierry Henry! He's a living legend and a man i truely respect to the highest degree!!! Shit happens in football, look at what ngog did against birmingham the other week?! Just because it was Ireland in the mix, why is everyone jumping on the bandwagon!

I personnally blame the ref and linesman for not seeing the incident?! Fifa and uefa seriously need to bring some sort of technology into the game now tough!!! And if you think this post is bias against Ireland, i went to every home match in Croke Park during the WC Qualifiers and im not one bit suprised that an incident like Thierrys handball happened! It happens every bloody week sure!

And to answer Sola's question, every Ireland fan wouldnt care if it was the other way round! They say they would care now but they'd act the exact same way as the French FA are!!! Turn your head and let Fifa sort it out. A replay is the fairest way to decide who goes but even i know that that is truely impossible?!

Absafuckinglutely!! Always a legend. The insipid moral majority (the press of all culprits!) make me sick in their attempt to defame Henry's name. Feel sorry for the Irish but this public humiliation of our sporting heroes, in this case- for what, is a joke. Mind you it's something they are very good at in the UK.

FUCK OFF Avenell Dave. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU.

CUNTS LIKE YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE REST OF US SO SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GO PLAY WITH YOUR VIIRGINA YOU CUNT.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU BOO DURING A MINUTES SILENCE FOR OUR WAR DEAD, YOU BRAINLESS PIKEY CUNTS.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALL LAUGHING AT YOU, AND THIERRY IS OUR HERO! HA HA HA!

I would be so disappointed if France was to even consider a replay. I dont think its right to hang Henry out to dry like that