Saturday 26th July 2014. The day that Arsenal fans from both sides of the pond had been waiting for: Thierry Henry’s Exhibition match with the New York Red Bulls pitched against Arsenal at Red Bull Arena. It was an international friendly but that day we found out there was a new Cup to play for, the New York Cup. The Arsenal team that was initially fielded was only slightly different from the usual first XI: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Hayden, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Zelalem, Ramsey, Cazorla, Rosicky. Unfortunately my seat was up with the Gods in Section 229 and I could hardly see the numbers on the players shirts. As it turned out, it didn’t matter so much as the pace of the game was quite a bit slower than we’re used to watching back home – more like kicking a ball around the park on a Sunday morning. Nobody cared. We were in New York; although technically Red Bull Arena is a few miles down the road in Harrison, New Jersey but many of us had made the journey from the bars on East 14th Street using the PATH train.
The one thing that stood out from the moment Thierry Henry exited the tunnel until his substitution in the 53rd minute was he could do no wrong. The crowd erupted every time he touched the ball. I cannot imagine what would have happened had Henry scored a goal – the whole stadium would’ve gone crazy. Both teams created chances in the first half, with Szczesny saving an Henry shot in the fifth minute but it was Bradley Wright-Phillips, current leader of the MLS Golden Boot and son of former Arsenal player Ian Wright, who scored the opening goal for the New York Red Bulls in the 32nd minute. This came from an Henry corner with Ibrahim Sekagya heading the ball down and landing it at the feet of an unmarked Wright-Phillips. Shortly afterwards in the 39th minute Jack Wilshire made a valiant attempt but was stopped by Luis Robles. Robles, has had plenty of practice having saved a staggering 60+ goals so far this season. Before we know it we’re playing a game of ping-pong with the ball back down the other end of the pitch. Szczesny being put the test by Oyongo in the 40th and Wilshire having a shot headed away by Tim Cahill in the 41st. Santi Cazorla fired off a shot directly into the RBNY wall after Wilshire was brought down. After a minute of extra time the first half was done and dusted with RBNY leading by a goal to nil.
At the start of the second half Arsenal fielded a very different team: Martinez, Bellerin, Monreal, Miquel, Gibbs, Coquelin, Flamini, Diaby, Cazorla, Rosicky, Akpom. Seven substitutions altogether. With the game being back underway Cazorla forced a stop from Robles in the 48th minute. The incessant chant of Santi Cazorla from the Arsenal crowd rang around the stadium again and again. When Henry was substituted in the 53rd minute it was to a standing ovation; as he walked off the pitch he shook the referee’s hand and applauded the crowd. It’s sad to think that we may never see Henry play against us in the future. Unless he renews his contract with RBNY and I make a return trip here it may also be the last time I get to see him play. Anyway, back to the game. Péguy Luyindula was the player that replaced Henry. Diaby had a near equaliser with a marginal offside discounting his efforts in the 56th minute. Another free kick by Cazorla was saved by an untroubled Robles in the 58th. Much to-ing and fro-ing over the next 10 minutes with neither side managing to make anything of their opportunities. We have lots of substitutions which, apart from a couple of cracking saves by Martinez in the 66th and 76th minutes, feature more prominently than the football played itself for the rest of the match: Matt Miazka for Sekagya and Michael Bustamante for Cahill in the 61st minute, Ruben Bover for Dax McCarty, Jon Toral for Tomas Rosicky and Kris Olsson for Cazorla in the 69th minute, Kosuke Kimura for Chris Duvall in the 77th, Connor Lade for Lloyd Sam and finally Ryan Meara for Luis Robles in the 80th minute. Two minutes of added time doesn’t add anything to either team’s attacking prowess and the final whistle blows with no change to the score.
While Henry and his team lift the New York Cup (referred to as more of a crystal vase by one commentator) the Arsenal squad walk around the pitch saying thanks to all the fans. The arena has never looked or been so full with a record 25,219 in attendance. My guess would be that 90% of the crowd were Arsenal fans. Even the South Ward, where the die-hard New York Red Bulls fans orchestrate their support for the home team had more red shirts on show. The game was included in the RBNY Season Ticket but many of the RBNY fans decided to stay away and make money by selling their seat to the Arsenal fans. Their love for Henry clearly doesn’t stretch to those of the Arsenal fans.
The AT&T Man of the Match was Thierry Henry. But, of course, it couldn’t have been anyone else.
You can find out more on the official match report by Arsenal here:
MATCH REPORT: @Arsenal are beaten by the New York Red Bulls in their second pre-season game: http://t.co/dY28K5LCzo pic.twitter.com/baUkKCQbK9
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 26, 2014