Centurion Thierry

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Henry after another night of clinical finishing at Highbury. He’s top, top class. He’s second in the FIFA rankings for player of the year. He’s world-class,” said the Frenchman.

Asked if he had had any concerns about the 100-goal mark being a burden for Henry, Wenger replied: “I was not worried at all. You know with him a goal will come.”

Elsewhere cash-strapped Leeds gave their long-suffering fans something to celebrate at last. England striker Alan Smith put the hosts ahead before Wolves’s Romanian striker Ioan Viorel Ganea levelled. But Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo restored the hosts’ lead shortly before half-time and in the second half James Milner and Australian striker Mark Viduka, with a 90th minute goal, completed the rout.

At Highbury, Southampton were left in 11th place despite pushing Arsenal hard for most of the match. They appealed for a penalty when striker Brett Ormerod looked to have been brought down in the box by a combination of central defender Kolo Toure and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. However, referee Steve Bennett merely awarded a Southampton corner.

During the first half Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes, Arsenal’s record 17-million pounds signing from Seville, was largely anonymous. And Henry too was generally kept quiet by the Southampton defence during the early stages. But all that changed in the 31st minute. Henry, who looked offside when running on to fellow France international Pires’s through-ball, saw the linesman keep his flag down before outpacing Darren Kenton and beating Niemi. It was Henry’s 100th Premiership goal in his 160th appearance.

Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker was embroiled in controversy again as his own goal handed a draw to Bolton and harmed his side’s dwindling chances of retaining their Premiership status. Walker turned an innocuous toe-poke from Kevin Davies into an equaliser for Bolton as the keeper allowed the ball to slip under his body and hit his leg before crossing the line.