Arsenal's Henry meets fans in Beijing

Arsenal¹ star striker Thierry Henry from France met with fans in Beijing on Wednesday, during a promotional tour for a sporting goods manufacturer.

Beijing-based Star Daily reports that, at a press conference on Wednesday in Beijing, Henry talked about his career and family life.

The 29-year-old Frenchman refused to discuss reports that he would soon leave Arsenal for Barcelona. Earlier this month, Barca president Joan Laporta said he was "finalizing² the signing" of the top class striker.

"Since I started playing football, there's been speculation³ about me going to a lot of clubs so that will never stop," he said, "But for now I'm an Arsenal player, so that's all I can tell you."

Obviously he was frustrated⁴ by Arsenal's disappointing finish to the Premiership season ¨C the fourth behind Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

"This year it was pretty difficult to see once again that we finished so far away from the top teams," he said, "I'm getting annoyed that we're finishing at the end of the top four now."

"Sometimes having a lot of youngsters in the squad⁵ - I'm not trying to look for any excuses - you cannot have the same spirit, the same results. Winning is a very difficult process. You just don't arrive there."

Henry was rather passionate⁶, however, when talking about being a father. He said his daughter just celebrated⁷ her third birthday two days ago.

He spends time with his little girl when he is not in training or playing matches. He sings her lullabies, tells her stories "just like an ordinary father."

As well as by hundreds of screaming fans, the striker was welcomed by Chinese basketball star Yao Ming through a specially⁸ prepared videotape, in which the NBA player wished him a good trip in China and invited him to come again for the 2008 Olympics.

Henry indicated that he is indeed willing to come and watch the big event, in spite of his tight schedule