Two Legends – Scholes & Henry Returned – One was a Hero & the other wasn’t !

On Sunday and Monday, the football world witnessed the two biggest clubs in England welcomed back iconic figures back for the second debuts. The pre match hype was fully dominated by these two legends which in both cases I believe aided not only the pre match build up but also made us focus less on the cracks they are papering over.

Scholes return came as a complete shock as they had been rumours muting a return for a man described as the ‘most complete player’ and also labeled the best player of his generation. It proved that For one of the most gifted and successful players of his generation, this was no substitute for the raw adrenalin, pace, power and occasionally pain that comes with football and when the SOS call came from Sir Alex Ferguson asking him to put his boots once more, he couldn’t refuse. He just simply missed football, and the club he loved came calling.

Pre-match, when I saw Scholes name on the team sheet it came as a complete surprise as it did for everyone. I thought after a brief cameo in the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona at Wembley in May. His time was done and it was an end of era, well at least I thought it was.

On a rain-lashed afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, and the return of Scholes meant that this game provided us with more than just a third-round derby victory for United against Manchester City, it will be remembered as a classic.After a week in which Wayne Rooney has been analysed and criticised for ruptures in his relationship with United and Ferguson, it was no surprise that he started the ball rolling and celebrated with a flamboyant grasp at the badge of his shirt.

Welbecks, goal showed sheer athleticism and ingenuity, which made it 2-0 and a player who I believe is fast becoming the best prospect in terms of strikers this country has produced in a long time. He’s got the package and showed every bit of it with his goal. And when Rooney added his second from a rebound after his penalty was saved by City’s stand-in keeper Pantilimon it seem a formality.

A second half fight back with 10 men showed spirit and fight which you wouldn’t expect from a team of multi-millionaires with big ego’s but fair play to them with goals from Kolarov and Aguero who would ironically have to thank Scholesy AKA ‘sat nav’ for creating the opportunity for Milner to cross for Aguero to finish at the second time of asking. Not the second debut Scholes would have hoped however I’m Scholesy would prove a good short term solution for the club.

This brings me onto the King himself Thierry Henry. What a night to have been an arsenal fan. I can vouch for that. The game itself was a dead rubber but it was something encapsulating when Thierry entered the field you sense it was meant to be. His impact? Instant. Was it Destiny? Or Fate?

Well he scored his 12 goal in his 12^th game against Leeds wearing number 12 jersey and it was 12 minutes from the end. So therefore do you agree with the fact it was written for him? I personally believe so. But whatever it was, it was a great night to be a Gooner. Every Gooner was waiting for this game; it was like Christmas come early. I can admit I didn’t watch the game to report on it or anything. I watched it because of Thierry. And in a matter in eight minutes and three touches he showed us why he was the one of the most deadly forward of the Millennium. His trademark finish was presented to the Arsenal fans and it brought memories back of the good old days. He came on in the 68th minute and five touches of the ball and one chance, he manages to do more than Park and Chamakh have done in four months, which is put the ball in the back of the net. But if you’re an Arsenal fan reliving the return of the King and the game you remember Song’s exquisite pass and Herny’s movement touch and finish. Unbelievably cool, just natural and as he described it, it was second nature. The way he opened up his body, only Thierry could do that. I sincerely hope Theo was watching because he needs that composure and it will be interesting to see how his loan spell plans out. I for one am loving it short but long term like Scholes he obviously isn’t the answer.

Yes I’ll admit it was Leeds. Yes I’ll admit it papers over cracks and arsenal squad isn’t good enough for the top 4. However it arsenal, they have Wenger and now I’ they have the King!

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