Thierry Henry has now called on UEFA to make a rule change – which could help Arsenal.
The Frenchman – record goalscorer for Arsenal with 228 goals in 377 appearances – was treated to a UEFA Champions League classic in the CBS Sports studio on Wednesday, as Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a thrilling spectacle.
Goals by Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries put the Italian giants 2-0 up after just 21 minutes, before a Lamine Yamal masterclass got Barcelona back into the tie.
LAMINE YAMAL PULLS ONE BACK 🤩
Yamal glides through the Inter defence and hits a mesmerising finish on his 100th Barcelona game 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/e1lFJA13y7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 30, 2025
Ultimately, Inter Milan were fortunate to take a 3-3 draw back to the San Siro.
However – despite the brilliant entertainment on show – Thierry Henry still had a complaint after the final whistle.
Thierry Henry wants UEFA to reintroduce the away goals rule
As you may already know, UEFA opted to ditch the rule which meant away goals count for more – should the scoreline be level – back in 2021.
At the time, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “The away goals rule has been an intrinsic part of UEFA competitions since it was introduced in 1965.
“However, the question of its abolition has been debated at various UEFA meetings over the last few years. Although there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders have questioned its fairness and have expressed a preference for the rule to be abolished.”
Now, Henry – who Martin Odegaard admires – is calling for it to return.
“How can you score three goals away from home and not have an advantage.”
Thierry Henry has his say on the away goals rule, which was scrapped in 2021, after Inter’s impressive display in Barcelona 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ZpFegA6vpv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2025
The 47-year-old said: “I know it’s been like that for a very long time and we have to accept it, but off air, I was talking to Jamie and, how can you score three goals away from home and not have an advantage? Away goals, for me, were massive.”
Arsenal fans would agree right now
Henry, who recently praised Bukayo Saka, makes a good point, and Arsenal fans will surely be in agreement.
Of course, PSG have an away goal to their name, although Arsenal will be the away side in the second leg, and should the Gunners go 2-0 up in Paris, it would hypothetically leave PSG needing to score two as well to make it 3-2 on aggregate, if the rule still existed.
Ultimately, we doubt UEFA will perform a U-turn years on from scrapping the away goal rule in 2021, although if prominent names in football back Henry, anything is possible.
