Arsenal captain Robin van Persie credits his success this past season to sheer hard work.

Van Persie admits extra training sessions at the London Colney complex now comes naturally to him.

"Being first to training is a little something that can add up in your development," he says. "Football is your profession. You should take it seriously.

"I pay as much attention to the basics as I do the more beautiful things. That's perhaps the difference between me and other players.

"I look after myself. It's the only way you can move forward in this profession. You can't push others to do the same as you."