Thierry Henry and Robert Pires relive THAT penalty blunder as Arsenal legends reunite for Gunners' clash with Real Madrid
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- Two of Arsenal's finest players meet up for the Champions League last-eight tie
- They recall a famous botched spot-kick routine which left them both red-faced
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Should Phil Foden miss the Club World Cup this summer to be given a rest?
Robert Pires will forever be remembered as an Arsenal legend who won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups.
The stylish Frenchman scored 84 goals in his six years in north London and was one of the 'Invincibles' of the club's unbeaten 2003-04 league season.
But, for all those achievements, he is perhaps just as famous for a bungled penalty routine against Manchester City in 2005.
Pires scored the only goal for Arsene Wenger’s side with a penalty against City in a 1-0 win but the match is better remembered for his second spot-kick opportunity that was bizarrely fluffed.
Before taking his second spot-kick, Pires was persuaded by Thierry Henry to pass to him, rather than shoot.
The pair were aiming to re-create an infamous penalty taken by Dutch master Johan Cruyff in 1982. Cruyff passed to on-running Ajax team-mate Jesper Olsen, who drew the goalkeeper before passing back to Cruyff to score.
The French duo's attempt was not so slick as Pires managed to only skim the ball with his studs when trying to touch the ball on for the onrushing Henry, allowing City to clear. Referee Mike Riley thought Pires had touched the ball twice (incorrectly as it happens) and awarded City a free-kick.
Pires and Henry reunited at the Emirates on Tuesday night to watch their old club take on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
And with plenty of embarrassed laughter, the pair recalled the shanked spot-kick.
'It was my fault,' Pires told CBS Sports.
'I don't know what was on my mind... but it was Thierry's idea!'
To which Arsenal's all-time Premier League top scorer replied: 'It was my idea but I didn't make the mistake!'
It was an apposite occasion for the two Arsenal legends to be reunited. Nineteen years ago, they also faced Real Madrid in the Champions League last eight.
Henry scored the only goal of the tie, at the Bernabeu, with the Gunners going onto to reach the final which they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.
Pires left Arsenal that summer and never got the chance to play at the Emirates which opened for the 2006-07 season.
'It was a pleasure to play with Thierry, especially at Highbury,' said Pires.
'The energy from the ground helped us win games and titles.
'When you are a midfielder, like me, and you have strikers like Thierry or Dennis Bergkamp then it's easy. We believed in the same type of football.'
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