The South Korea skipper made his name at Monaco after leaving his homeland and joined Arsenal for around £3 million in August 2011.

He burst onto the scene at the 2004 Asian Football Confederation Youth Championship where the young Taeguk Warriors hoisted the trophy with Park winning the tournament's Most Valuable Player and top scorer awards.

Park continued his fine form at FC Seoul. He had the pace to burn, the skill and the willingness to flit left, right and deep and won the K-League Cup among a host of personal awards, but only when moving to French Ligue 1 side Monaco in 2008 did he start to make a real impression.

Park was so determined to be a professional footballer that he spent time as a teenager at Zico's academy at Rio in order to realise his dream of making the grade in the European game and it did not take him long to settle. He led Monaco to be runners-up in the 2009 Coupe de France and hit 25 goals in his 91 games for the club before earning himself a move to Arsenal in August 2011.

Strengths: He has prowess from dead-ball situations, good movement and his ability to out-sprint even the most speedy of defenders is impressive.

Weaknesses: Still must add consistency to his game and struggles in one-on-one situations.

Career high: He scored a vital goal to put Korea 2-1 ahead against Nigeria at 2010 World Cup, which helped them reach last-16.

Career low: At the 2006 World Cup finals, he spectacularly failed to live up to the pre-tournament billing of the 'Asian Baggio'.

Style: Powerful, quick and incisive, a natural predator.

Quotes: "He knows that he must always be available. He is also remarkably strong in the air, despite his average size. He has very good timing." Former Monaco coach Guy Lacombe, 2011.

Trivia: A committed Christian, he signs 'Jesus is Christ' next to his autograph.