Arsenal played their final fixture at Highbury on this day in 2006. Two decades ago, the North Londoners said farewell to their former home, as the club prepared to move to the Emirates Stadium after 93 years at Highbury.
The final-day fixture of the 2005/06 Premier League season was both emotive and important. Arsenal found themselves embroiled in a race for the top four with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who started the day a point clear of the Gunners.
However, with several of the Spurs squad struck down by illness on the eve of their final-day fixture at West Ham, ‘lasagne-gate’ was born, and Arsenal took advantage.
Thierry Henry (who else?) scored a hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic that confirmed Arsenal’s place in the Champions League. Robert Pires opened the scoring for Arsenal, but Wigan hit back to lead through goals from Paul Scharner and David Thompson.
Henry’s treble turned the game around and ensured a celebratory mood at Highbury. The clash also marked Dennis Bergkamp’s final game before retirement, as the Arsenal legend bowed out on a high.
Henry’s hat-trick saw him end with 114 Premier League goals scored at Highbury, the most by a player at a single stadium in Premier League history.
