France need some of the virtuoso goals Thierry Henry keeps scoring for Arsenal if they are to make an impact at the World Cup finals in Germany.
The 28-year-old has scored 31 goals, including a few important ones, in 76 appearances for his country but often seems to save his most thrilling performances for the north London club.
His goalscoring this season earned him the title of England's Footballer of the Year in April -- the first player in the 56-year history of the award to win that honour three times.
Yet the man who has scored more than 200 goals for Arsenal, replacing Ian Wright as the club's most prolific scorer, has sometimes let France down when they needed him most.
The striking partnership of Henry and Juventus's David Trezeguet is one of the most devastating in world soccer on paper but neither man scored at the 2002 World Cup, which France left without a win after the group stage.
Henry's supply chain, it might be argued, is of superior quality at Arsenal but France also have a few midfield artists, starting with Zinedine Zidane.
If they get it right and provide Henry with the ammunition he requires, France could go a long way in Germany.
Runner-up as World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2003, the Frenchman can rarely be contained. His pace, vision and ability to drag defenders out to the wings before accelerating into the penalty area are added to a deadly eye for goal.
Henry joined Monaco as a 13-year-old in 1990 and matured there under the guidance of coach Arsene Wenger, with whom he was to be reunited later at Arsenal.
Four years later, he made his league debut for Monaco and was still a teenager when he signed a pre-contract with Real Madrid which was annulled by FIFA because the agent who approached him was not registered with world soccer's governing body.
After a frustrating short spell with Juventus he joined Arsenal in August 1999, soon becoming the head of their dazzling brand of fluent, attacking football. The Frenchman helped them to two league titles and three FA Cup triumphs, although he missed the 2005 final through injury.
The Premier League's top scorer in four of the last five seasons, Henry also played a major role in Arsenal's run to this month's Champions League final and promptly signed a new contract despite losing in Paris to Barcelona.
A key member of France's 2000 European championship-winning team, Henry was often a substitute in their 1998 campaign and the time is now just right for him to fully show his class on the World Cup stage.
