Skip to main content
CNN.com International
The Web    CNN.com      Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ON TV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Football

Henry treble extends Arsenal lead


story.arsenal.afp.jpg
Arsenal beat Liverpool 4-2 to edge nearer to Premier League title

Story Tools

LONDON, England -- A Thierry Henry hat-trick put Arsenal firmly on course for the Premier League title after they ended a torrid week with a 4-2 win over Liverpool at Highbury.

The win gives Arsenal, now unbeaten for 31 games from the start of the season, a seven-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the league with both clubs having seven matches remaining.

After going out of the FA Cup and Champions League over the last seven days, Arsenal found themselves 2-1 down at halftime with Sami Hyypia and Michael Owen on target for Liverpool and Henry replying for the home side.

But two quick goals in three minutes at the start of the second half, the first from Robert Pires and then a brilliant second from Henry, gave them the lead.

Henry passed a late fitness test on a back injury to make the starting lineup and grabbed his hat-trick in the 78th minute, his 25th league goal of the season.

Still reeling after defeats to Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal last Saturday and Chelsea in the last eight of the Champions League on Tuesday, Arsenal had the worst possible start when Steven Gerrard's goalbound header was glanced over the line by Hyypia after just five minutes.

But after 31 minutes Henry was put through by his compatriot Pires and stroked the ball left-footed past Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

The goal invigorated Arsenal and they looked to have gained the upper hand only for Gerrard and Owen combined to put the visitors back in front three minutes before the break.

Owen got in front of England team mate Sol Campbell, latched on to Gerrard's slide-rule pass and slipped the ball between Jens Lehmann's legs for his fifth goal in the last four league games.

WONDER GOAL

Arsenal came roaring out after the break and within two minutes Freddie Ljungberg's deft touch had put Pires through and the French midfielder had slotted home the equaliser.

Just over a minute later, Henry took matters into his own hands and came up with a wonder goal, weaving his way through the Liverpool defence and rolling the ball into the far corner of the net, to put Arsenal 3-2 ahead.

Thereafter Arsenal played like champions-elect and Henry grabbed his hat-trick in rather fortuitous circumstances -- his shot came back off Dudek but bounced into the net off the Frenchman's body in the 78th minute.

Liverpool never gave up but remain fourth in the table, occupying the last Champions League berth on 49 points, just one above Newcastle United.

Arsenal, who are heading for their 13th league title, are back in action again on Sunday at Newcastle, while Liverpool host Charlton Athletic on Monday.

"It's really amazing how they find the resources," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "You can't get worse than losing a Champions League game with two minutes to go and no time to respond. The way the team responded today is absolutely magnificent."

"When you have your back to the wall and you produce the kind of game we did today, it shows there is more about this team than just winning matches."

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier added: "I feared they would react like a wounded animal and they were simply stunning in the second half.

"The way they played, I don't think any team could compete with them. The man who made the difference for them was Thierry Henry. The way he scored the third goal was a wonderful piece of individual brilliance. You've just got to put your hands up and just praise them."


Story Tools
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! cover
Top Stories
Trapattoni new VfB Stuttgart coach
Top Stories
EU 'crisis' after summit failure
 
 
 
 

CNN US
On CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNN AvantGo CNNtext Ad info Preferences
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.