'Society wasn't ready' - Arsenal legend opens up on depression battle

Arsenal hero Thierry Henry has explained why he often showed exceptionally muted celebrations after scoring for the Gunners while also opening up about his struggles with depression. The former striker scored 228 times for the Emirates side but his reactions to those goals were often more serious than celebratory.

The French U21 manager was recently on the Diary of a CEO podcast and when asked the question by Steven Bartlett, he replied: "I don’t know. I never asked myself that question. I couldn’t care less. I just couldn’t care less. You saw me play, my face was always hard, I could smile. It’s funny, this is what I always said to people.

"In France they always had a go at me as I never used to celebrate my goals. I always used to stand in stoic manner and always proud or rage."

During the course of his Arsenal career, which spanned from 1999 to 2007, Henry won two Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, two FA Community Shields as well as being the runner up in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League. The 46-year-old is also a four time Premier League Golden Boot winner and lifted the World Cup with France in 1998.

Despite all of these achievements, however, any goal celebration remained calm and collected. But Henry was always ready to smile when he gave an assist. Carrying on, Henry said on the podcast: "People never used to see that when I gave an assist I always used to smile.

"Pleasing. Watch, assist - smile, goal - rage. It’s weird, huh? Giving was always smiling. But goal... no. It’s just what you had to do man."

The former French international also opened up about his struggles with his emotions and detailed how he was 'programmed' to become a footballer from a young age by his father. Henry said he suffered depression which he only faced up to after letting go of his competitive side at the end of his career.

"Throughout my career, I must have been in depression. Did I know it? No. Did I do something about it? Obviously no. But I had adapted in a certain way. I was lying for a very long time because society wasn't ready to hear what I had to say.”

"I didn’t know what used to make me sad and not sad", Henry said. "I wouldn’t say (I was dead) but expressing my feelings was very difficult. Apart from rage and anger. Rage and anger is easy. It was something I didn’t do. I’m getting upset so it gives me fuel, always."