Henry became part of a goal celebrationHenry became part of a goal celebration
Henry became part of a goal celebration | AFP via Getty Images
An Arsenal legend became part of a strange but touching goal celebration on Thursday night.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was the subject of a bizarre but touching goal celebration on Thursday night. Henry was part of the CBS punditry crew at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The venue played host to a double-header of CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals, with USA taking on Panama and Canada facing Mexico.
Mexico defeat Canada as expected, but Panama stunned Mauricio Pochettino’s USA side, with Cecilio Weterman scoring four minutes into stoppage time to secure a historic win and a spot in the final against Mexico at the same stadium this weekend.
After Waterman scored, he sprinted over to where the pundits were standing, on a section low in the stand behind the goal, jumped over the hoardings, climbed up to where Henry was standing and pointed in his face. He said: “You are my idol, you are my idol.”
“It was incredible, I was in shock,” Henry told Paramount+ after the game. He added: “I saw what it meant to them. I saw it in their eyes because I was so close. I was as if in a trance. Thank God I understand Spanish when he told me 'You are my idol'. But it was special, wow.”
Waterman was later invited to be part of the post-game programme, where he got to meet his idol and share an embrace. When asked about it, he said: “The night before, at the hotel, I was asked: 'Who was your idol when you were a child? And I said Henry because when I was a kid I always saw you play for Arsenal and then Barcelona... You were an inspiration to me’. I scored the goal now, I saw you and I had to come and greet you. It happened.”
Henry promised to send Waterman one of his Arsenal shirts after the game after Waterman signed his and gave it to the Gunners legend as a gift.
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