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Thierry Henry once privately requested a rival player to humiliate one Arsenal Invincible, he did it

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Arsenal created history in 2003/04 by going the entire Premier League season unbeaten.

Arsene Wenger had built one of the greatest sides in football history, and every player in that squad is a hero to Gooners today.

Thierry Henry, of course, was the main man, and Patrick Vieira was the captain of the club in that infamous season. They were both world-class, but they liked to have a bit of fun too.

The two French icons took the help of Jay-Jay Okocha to embarrass fellow Arsenal legend Ray Parlour many years ago.

Thierry Henry requested Jay-Jay Okocha to humiliate Arsenal teammate Ray Parlour

Ray Parlour was a joy to watch when he played for Arsenal.

The Englishman was a very underrated midfielder, and he produced several magical moments in the famous red and white back in the day.

Parlour was a prankster too. He loved to make fun of his teammates, and some of his stories are iconic even to this day.

Back in the 2002/03 season, Henry and Vieira decided to come up with a plan to embarrass Parlour, and they sought the help of Okocha.

Before the game against Bolton Wanderers, the two Arsenal greats went to the legendary Nigerian and requested him to pull off a skill against Parlour to embarrass him.

Okocha said in an interview with DSTV in Nigeria: “I had a chat with Thierry Henry and Vieira. They were like: ‘Could you please try and do something against Ray Parlour, so that during the week we’ll have a good laugh?’

“I said: ‘Well, if the result is going our way, I’ll figure something out.'”

Jay Jay Okocha and Ray Parlour
Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

Did Okocha embarrass Parlour?

Okocha is still regarded as one of the most skilful players football has ever seen.

The Nigerian could produce magic when he had the ball at his feet, and he humiliated many players with his tricks over the years.

But, did Parlour suffer that fate? The answer is yes.

In that game between Bolton and Arsenal, after the Wanderers came from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, Okocha tried to slow the game down when his side got a corner in stoppage time.

After the ball was touched onto him, the former PSG man decided to pull off a rainbow flick over Parlour’s head, and it came off.

“Sometimes it looks as if I’m taking the mick, but I wasn’t,” he said.

“In this situation, how can I get past two players without flicking the ball over Ray Parlour’s head? It’s how you approach me will determine what I do.”