Left field

The clock said 68 minutes, and no one at the Emirates Stadium in north London was looking at the action on the pitch as the fourth official held aloft his lit-up board to signal the re-introduction of Thierry Henry to English football.

Ten minutes later and he’d scored the game’s eventual winner. Comebacks don’t get this good this often.

14 to replace 15 shone the bright numbers before the goal, but alas Henry’s former number has since been taken by young English talent Theo Walcott, who idolises the French great.

Now, for six weeks and six weeks only after which he will return to the United States with the New York Red Bulls, Henry can be seen wearing an Arsenal shirt with the number 12, the same as his France days during which he won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship.

The only numbers Arsenal fans will care about are 228, 229 and who knows, possible even into the 230s.

With a trademark movement of his right boot, Henry had added to his record Arsenal tally of 226 having watched his new teammates spurn chance after chance against Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup.

Arsenal fans out there, does this worry you? Would you like to see Arsene Wenger bring in another striker in the January transfer window given the lack of goals?

There are some huge matches coming up, namely the home fixture against reigning Premier League champions Manchester United on Jan. 22, the FA Cup fourth round game against Aston Villa on Jan. 28 (also at home), and into February the Champions League last 16 tie against AC Milan in Italy on the 15th.

It’s that time of the year, where signings can make or break a season. Henry looks to be a good one, but surely more are needed if Arsenal are to go on and break their trophy drought that dates back to the 2005 FA Cup.

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Picture: Arsenal’s Thierry Henry celebrates his goal against Leeds United during their FA Cup soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London, January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh