“Even when I play cards with my friends, we have arguments because I want to win. If I see people playing and not wanting to win, it just does my head in”

ARSENAL striker Thierry Henry has said his unrelenting search for sporting perfection is the reason he smiles so little on the pitch.

Henry may lack the wide-toothed grin of Ronaldinho or the jubilant goalscoring celebrations of Robbie Keane, but he is simply his own harshest critic.

It all started with his father’s desire to see his son make the most of his obvious talent and escape his harsh upbringing in the Paris suburbs. And it continues now with his statement that not even winning the Champions League would make up for missing out on the Premiership title.