THIERRY HENRY hits hat-trick to home in on Wrighty record

It's va-va boom

THIERRY HENRY smashed a glorious hat-trick against rock-bottom Norwich as Arsenal cruised to victory at Highbury.

The French hitman struck twice in three minutes before the break and then rounded off his second treble in as many league games just after the hour.

That took his Gunners tally to 181 — just four behind Ian Wright's club record.

And boss Arsene Wenger joked: "I'd be worried if I was Ian — he hates Thierry!"

Freddie Ljungberg also scored, while Darren Huckerby conjured up the goal of the day as a consolation.

Gilberto started his first game for six months for the Gunners but Norwich continued to look hopelessly out of place in the Premiership.

They arrived at Highbury on the back of four straight defeats and anchored to the foot of the table. And while they did not have to face Patrick Vieira, who picked up a knock in midweek, they did have to contend with Henry's va-va voom.

He returned after missing both of France's World Cup qualifiers but, ominously, his last league outing against Portsmouth had seen him score a hat-trick. Wenger revealed: "Thierry played with his brain because he was not physically fit. A hat-trick for a guy not fit isn't bad!

"He was rested by France in midweek, which was nice of them, and a three-week break has helped.

Even Norwich boss Nigel Worthington said: "Henry is the best in the world. It's exciting for the British people to see him play like that.

Carved

"As for us, we're obviously nowhere near Arsenal's level but we'll keep fighting."

The opening minutes were spent camped in Norwich's half but it took until the quarter-hour mark for a chance to be carved out. Henry set up unsettled Spaniard Jose Reyes for a one-on-one with Robert Green but the keeper easily saved his tame effort.

Yet, four minutes later, Henry made no such mistake. He latched on to a free-kick and left Green with no chance as he fired into the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 in the 22nd minute. Cameroon star Lauren spotted the Frenchman on the left, Henry cut inside, fooled two defenders and deposited an unstoppable effort past Green.

Ljungberg was the next to line up a chance as he stormed through.

This time, Green was up to the task as he saved Norwich's bacon while, at the other end, Huckerby had a penalty appeal turned down following a scruffy tackle from Pascal Cygan. Then, completely against the run of play, Wenger's side conceded their first goal in more than five matches.

It came after another blunder from keeper Jens Lehmann.

He flapped at a corner, the ball was not cleared and Huckerby drove a screamer into the top corner. But normal service was resumed in the second half and the Canaries were pummelled.

Ljungberg had already had a shot cleared off the line within moments of the restart, before the Swede finally made it 3-1.

Lauren again sent over a pinpoint cross, Craig Fleming failed to deal with the hanging ball and Ljungberg stole in to leave Worthington fuming just five minutes into the second half. How Fleming allowed the slight frame of the Arsenal man to beat him in the air is anyone's guess.The game continued to be played in Norwich's half as the Gunners' constant teasing turned into total domination.

Whistled

Henry sent another thunderbolt wide, while Reyes whistled an effort over the crossbar.

And it was no surprise when Henry completed his stunning hat-trick to make it four in the 66th minute.

Reyes went dancing into the area and would probably have won a penalty had the ball not broken to Henry who stroked home from five yards.