JET packs his own version of va-va voom
IF Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s spectacular effort against Hamilton looked like it took inspiration from Thierry Henry’s goal for the ages against Manchester United in October 2000, there’s a reason for that. It was learned at the feet of the master.
Emmanuel-Thomas — or JET, to his friends — was a nine-year-old coming through the Arsenal academy when Henry produced that moment of magic at Highbury, taking a pass with his back to goal, flipping the ball into the air with the tip of his right boot and then turning in one glorious movement to volley it past Fabien Barthez from the edge of the area.
By the time the youngster had progressed to skippering Arsenal Under-18s, Henry was around regularly at training to dispense his knowledge.
Sure, their careers have taken slightly different roads since. EmmanuelThomas was last spotted signing for a team in Thailand before he pitched up at Livingston last September. However, for a few golden seconds on Saturday, the 30-year-old was transported back to the days when he dreamed of emulating his idol.
When Nicky Devlin slipped a short pass his way with his back to the target after 16 minutes, the striker’s mind flashed back to Henry’s pièce de résistance. Aaron Martin was tight on him, just as Denis Irwin was to Henry.
Yes, he used his left foot, and was inside the area. But the first touch and the volley on the turn was a carbon copy of his hero’s — except it soared into the top corner at a greater rate of knots.
Can a JET pack its own brand of va-va voom? Clearly.
‘Thierry was one of my idols, especially being at Arsenal and seeing him in training, but you never think you’re going to have the chance to replicate a goal as legendary as the one he scored against United,’ he said.
‘It just seemed to sit up perfectly for me. I was thinking about it (Henry’s goal) as the ball was on its way to me. It was at the right speed, the defender was on the right side of me, so I was thinking if I could shift the ball up with the first touch...
‘I know I was much closer than he was, but if I caught it right the keeper would have no chance — and as soon as I hit it I knew it was perfect.
‘I was at Arsenal from when I was seven and that goal against United was one you’ll never forget. That and the backheel he scored at Charlton are the two I’ll remember most. Now that I’ve scored my version of this one, maybe one day if the ball falls right I can manage the other one as well!
‘I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time around Henry and to get to talk to him a lot, to learn from him. He was a great mentor who always had so much advice for younger players.’
Emmanuel-Thomas picked a fine time to score his first goal in eight games and his fifth of the season, setting up Livi for the win that ensures they will end the season playing in the top half of the Premiership split.
Okay, he lost the ball to Brian Easton midway inside his own half to allow Callum Smith to cut inside on the half hour and send a rasping effort past Robby McCrorie from over 20 yards.
But it all worked out fine in the end. A cross from the right from Devlin hit off Accies’ Lee Hodson and allowed Scott Pittman to bundle the ball home and secure a welcome first victory in seven matches.
‘We’d been waiting for this,’ said Emmanuel-Thomas. ‘It’s a great feeling to be secure in the top six.’
He puts recent issues, particularly last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Motherwell, down to the disappointment of losing to St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup final and said: ‘It’s difficult to bounce back from a result like that. Watching them lift the trophy is mentally draining.’
Hakeem Odoffin left Livingston to join Accies last summer and admits his new side’s need to get out of the drop zone means he can’t think too deeply about the improvements in his old team.
‘It’s great for them, but I’m focused on Hamilton,’ he said. ‘We have to forget about (this defeat) and move on because it’s a crucial time of the season.’ LIVINGSTON (4-2-3-1): McCrorie 6; Devlin 8, Fitzwater 6, Guthrie 6, Longridge 6; Bartley 6, Holt 6; Sibbald 6 (Serrano 84), Pittman 7, Forrest 7 (Mullin 78); Emmanuel-Thomas 7 (Poplatnik 90). Subs not used: Maley, Kabia, McMillan, Ambrose, Tiffoney, Lawson. Booked: Devlin, Holt. HAMILTON (3-5-2): Fulton 6; Hamilton 6, A Martin 6, Easton 6; Hodson 6 (Hughes 55), Odoffin 6, S Martin 6, Callachan 6, Munro 6; C Smith 7 (Moyo 90), Anderson 6. Subs not used: Gourlay, Stanger, Stirling, Trafford, Mimnaugh, Redfern, Slaven. Booked: A Martin, C Smith. Man of the match: Nicky Devlin. Referee: Kevin Clancy.
I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time around Henry