Back in 2006, Thierry Henry inspired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, now, 19 years on and his words in the aftermath should encourage this current Gunners side.
Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday as they defeated PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta’s side take on the 15-time winners of the competition Los Blancos and will be hoping to cause a major upset.
Looking at Carlo Ancelloti’s stacked Madrid side, the Gunners face a daunting task, however, Henry’s words from 2006 should be used as encouragement by this current Arsenal team to follow in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger’s men.
How Arsenal defeated Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu
En route to the Champions League Final back in 2006, Arsenal recorded a shock 1-0 win away at the Santiago Bernabeu which proved enough to see off Real Madrid.
Thierry Henry’s first-half strike was the only goal in the tie as the Frenchman produced one of his best performances in an Arsenal shirt.
Madrid fans recognised Henry’s efforts against their side as the forward was given a standing ovation following his display.
The North London club showed Madrid’s galacticos how it was done with the likes of Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Jose Antonio Reyes, Cesc Fabregas and Jens Lehmann silencing the Bernabeu.
Arsenal’s line up vs Real Madrid: Lehmann; Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini; Ljungberg, Hleb, Silva, Febregas, Reyes; Henry.
Mikel Arteta’s team should take note of Thierry Henry’s comments after beating Real Madrid in 2006
But now it’s time for Arsenal’s new generation of talents to head to the Spanish capital and look to replicate what Wenger’s side managed 19 years ago.
Speaking after the match, Henry, who is backing Arsenal to beat Madrid, revealed his teammates were “not scared to play” against such a team and lauded the bravery of Arsenal’s youthful team.
Henry told the media: “As soon as we are not scared to play good football we can do it and at the back we were tremendous.
“What some of the young players did at their age at the Bernabeu was amazing. We have only won one game and we have to stay calm and focused.”
These quotes feel rather poignant given Arsenal’s young squad, but also the feeling that this could be their coming of age moment, which they have been waiting to finally happen.
