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Henry steers Arsenal through (11.03.2004)
Arsenal eased into the Champions League quarterfinals for the second time in their history with a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo at Highbury on Wednesday.
Leading 3-2 from the first leg, two first-half goals from France striker Thierry Henry killed off the contest, before Pablo Contreras` second yellow card 17 minutes from time completed the visitors` miserable night.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reflected on how the Gunners had nearly been eliminated after the group phase, only to bounce back and qualify.
"Overall I think what is remarkable tonight is not that we have won the game, but that we have won at Celta Vigo and bounced back by being nearly out of the Champions League, and now we are in the last eight.
"We enjoy it because we were nearly out," said the Frenchman.
Wenger also paid tribute to Henry, who struck his first goals in a home Champions League match in 10 encounters, but added it was because he was so well supported by the rest of the team.
"He was given great balls today and scored goals, and he`ll get the headlines.
"We know he can score goals, and goalscorers always get the headlines."
The Spanish side, third from bottom in the league, were overrun by treble-chasers Arsenal.
The Gunners quickly set about extending their advantage, and Henry drilled a low right foot shot past Argentina goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero 14 minutes in.
Dennis Bergkamp, back in the side after being rested for the FA Cup win over Portsmouth, had turned a couple of defenders outside the penalty area before flicking in a clever through-ball for Henry, who had stayed onside before finishing.
The goal made Henry the fourth player alongside Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alessandro Del Piero to score 30 Champions
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League goals.
Celta still sensed a chance to keep the tie alive, and Frenchman Peter Luccin immediately stung Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann`s palms with a blast from distance, but Jose Ignacio should have at least shot on target with a loose ball from the resulting corner.
Netherlands forward Bergkamp, who did not feature in Vigo due to his fear of flying, played his part in Henry`s second on 34 minutes.
Freddie Ljungberg played a through-ball for Bergkamp, running into the box. The Dutchman returned the ball for Sweden winger Ljungberg to cross first time from the right.
At the back post, Henry brought the cross down before cooly placing the ball into the Vigo net.
Brazil midfielder Edu, who scored two for the Gunners in the first leg, missed a free header at the back post four minutes before the interval, after the inspired Bergkamp had clipped the ball to him perfectly.
Cavallero, who broke his nose in the first leg, denied Henry his hat-trick with a fine stop after Robert Pires had set up his countryman just before the break.
Henry returned the favour when he spread the ball across the edge of the box 12 minutes into the second half, but Cavallero again produced a good block.
The `keeper was lucky not to see at least a yellow card from World Cup final referee Pierluigi Collina when he kicked Bergkamp in the chest as he jumped to block the Dutchman`s chip.
Vigo substitute Contreras, on for ex-Gunner Silvinho, picked up his second yellow card for a body check on Arsenal substitute Jose Antonio Reyes late on to round off Celta`s dismal performance.
Celta now have the misery of a relegation fight to look forward to, but the Gunners remain on target for their treble-winning dream.
AFP
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