Thierry Henry recently shared an incredible story about his return to Arsenal and the remarkable coincidences surrounding the number 12 shirt.
The legendary French striker first arrived at Arsenal in 1999 after a brief and unfulfilling stint with Juventus.
Upon his arrival, Henry inherited the No. 14 shirt from Martin Keown and, after a slow start, became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 226 goals across eight seasons.
Henry’s illustrious career then took him to Barcelona, where he finally secured the Champions League title that had long eluded him.
Later, he moved to the United States to play for the New York Red Bulls. However, in January 2012, an unexpected opportunity to return to the Emirates emerged, and Henry seized it without hesitation.
At the time, Henry was keeping fit by training with Arsenal during the MLS off-season.
Even at 34, his talent was unmistakable to Arsène Wenger, who promptly signed him on a short-term loan.
Henry’s love for Arsenal was undeniable, as he declared, “When it comes to Arsenal, my heart will always do the talking.”
Despite no longer being the star of the team, Henry was content with a supporting role.
His iconic No. 14 shirt, which had by then become synonymous with his name, was unavailable, so he took the vacant No. 12 jersey.
Ironically, the No. 12 shirt held personal significance for Henry, as he had worn it with France throughout his international career.
“When I arrived at Arsenal [in 1999], I wanted number 12, but Christopher Wreh had number 12,” Henry revealed during an interview with 90min for the release of *Venom: The Last Dance*, reflecting on his emotional return.
Fate, it seemed, had aligned perfectly for Henry. Not only did he finally get the number he initially wanted, but the No. 12 would play a significant role in one of modern football’s most beloved stories.
In a third-round FA Cup match against Leeds United, just three days after re-signing with Arsenal, Henry sat on the bench, ready to offer his experience and leadership if needed. But when the game remained locked at 0-0, the stage was set for something special.
Henry recalled the moment vividly, “That game, the Leeds game, the scenario was perfect because it’s 0-0. You come on, in my mind, I’m like…’Just imagine if I score the winner’.” In a storybook moment, Henry delivered exactly that.
He came off the bench and, in trademark fashion, positioned himself on the left side of the box before curling the ball into the far bottom corner with his right foot—an unforgettable Henry goal.
Reflecting on the bizarre coincidences surrounding his return, Henry remarked, “When I came back, I had number 12…in 2012. I scored with 12 minutes to go. That was my 12th game against Leeds and my 12th goal against Leeds.” The alignment of events was so surreal that it even struck the striker himself as he left the stadium later that night. “I left the stadium that day at 1:30 in the morning. I still had my shin pads and my shorts on. I didn’t want to move.”
Henry’s brief but magical return to Arsenal was capped off with one more goal, this time in the Premier League, where he scored a dramatic 91st-minute winner against Sunderland.
It marked his final contribution in English football, bringing his overall tally for Arsenal to a phenomenal 228 goals in 377 appearances.
