THIERRY HENRY hauled Arsenal back from the brink of oblivion with a
magnificent hat-trick.
The French striker opened up a seven-point Premiership lead for the Gunners,
who trailed Liverpool 2-1 at half-time.
And Henry vowed: “We’ve been down — but we’re not dead yet.
“We let the FA Cup go and the Champions League go but we are not going to
give up our entire season’s work.
“It’s all about how much you want it.
“Today we showed the mentality to answer all the questions that were being
asked of us.
“People were saying we were dead after losing to Manchester United and
Chelsea. In some ways we were.
“After two defeats in four days everyone was thinking we are not a good team
any more.
“They had forgotten we have not lost in the league all season.
“But we have to accept that we will always be judged on our last game.
“When we went a goal down after five minutes today everyone watching on TV
or listening to the radio must have thought ‘They are gone’.
“Then when we came back and they went 2-1 ahead they would be thinking
‘They are more than gone’.
“But today was all about commitment.
“We’re exhausted but you would never have known that from the way we played
in the second half. We looked as though we’d had ten days’ rest.”
Henry, 26, hit his first treble since the Premiership win over West Ham in
January 2003.
Skipper Patrick Vieira said: “When Thierry is playing like that, no one can
stop him.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger drooled: “Thierry was brilliant.
“He can be a victim of his own success because if he is not scoring all the
time, people ask questions.
“This was the most vital game of those left this season.
“It was a massive test when we went 2-1 down. But the response in the second
half was outstanding — mentally and physically.
“The togetherness of this side is unbelievable. I’m a great admirer of
their human qualities and what they show with their backs to the wall.
“When you suffer disappointments you look at how players react and their
team spirit.”
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier said: “Arsenal’s second-half display was the
best I have ever seen against my team.
“They reacted like a wounded animal.”
