Kickhell

Henry's 2012 Arsenal return: FA Cup goal in 10 minutes

Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal on loan in January 2012 and scored the FA Cup winner against Leeds United just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

· Kickhell

Updated Sep 18, 2026

Thierry Henry during his 2012 Arsenal loan spell
Ronnie Macdonald / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal on a two-month loan in January 2012, nearly five years after leaving the club for Barcelona.

Henry had departed Arsenal in 2007 before joining MLS side New York Red Bulls in 2010. During the MLS off-season, he began training with Arsenal again ahead of his temporary return, which was confirmed on January 6, 2012.

The FA Cup third-round tie against Leeds United provided his first opportunity to feature. Henry came on as a substitute and needed just 10 minutes to make an impact, scoring the winning goal in what was widely described as a dream return.

The Frenchman remains Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer, and the 2012 cameo stands as one of the more memorable moments in the club's recent history.

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