Arsenal striker Thierry Henry hit a superb brace to give Arsenal a thrilling 2-1 victory over Liverpool and cap a successful week for the Gunners. Henry put the home side in front midway through the first-half before Luis Garcia leveled for Liverpool from a trade-mark rebound after the break. But the Frenchman capitalized on a dreadful error from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to fire the winner eight minutes from time. The victory moved fifth-place Arsenal within just two points from city rivals Tottenham who come fourth on 49 points, with both sides competing for the last UEFA Champions League spot. It also capped a special week for the Londoners who toppled Real Madrid 1-0 on aggregate in the Champions League to qualify to the last eight for the third time in history. On the other hand, the defeat left Liverpool third on 55 points and completed their misery after bowing out of the Champions League following a humiliating 3-0 aggregate loss to Benfica. King Henry Arsenal started with all arms blazing as they came out for revenge after losing to Liverpool in the dying seconds at Anfield last month.
Gerrard The home side dominated the rhythm in the first ten minutes thanks to Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva who marshaled the midfield and Henry's efforts in the front with some help from Togolese partner Emmanuel Adebayor. Arsenal grabbed a much-deserved lead in the 21st minute when Fabregas arrowed a deft through pass behind the Liverpool defense for the darting Henry who cut inside the area and curled a venomous shot into the far side netting. Prominent right-back Emmanuel Eboue failed to stretch the lead shortly after when he was found unchallenged in the box but he crossed instead of poking home. England striker Peter Crouch failed to equalize when he towered above the static Arsenal defense and headed a neat cross just wide. Garcia and Gerrard compounded to bring the Reds level with a carbon-copy goal of their joint effort that earned Liverpool's victory over Arsenal at home. Gerrard received the ball in Arsenal's midfield, advanced surly and unleashed a powerful shot that was denied by keeper Jens Lehmann only for Garcia to head home on the rebound. But Gerrard's howler in the 82nd minute was enough for Henry to notch the winner and secure the precious three points. The England midfielder passed the ball back to his goalkeeper without much attention and the anticipating Henry was there to scuff it, round keeper Jose Reina and drill the ball into and empty net.
