Karen Parlour wants her maintenance increased to �406,000

Her contribution to his �1.2m-a-year success was not part of a "joint enterprise" asset to be divided after divorce, Nicholas Francis QC said.

"He is the one who performs the labour," he told the Court of Appeal.

Mr Francis was contesting an appeal by Karen Parlour for an increase in payments from �250,000 to �406,000.

"He is the one who submits to Arsene Wenger's regime of behaviour and abstinence," Mr Francis told the court.

"He is the one who risks injury to his hamstring or whatever."

Mother-of-three Mrs Parlour, 33, also received a lump sum of �250,000, a �1m mock-Tudor house in Hornchurch, Essex, and a holiday home in Norfolk in an earlier High Court settlement.

Drinking culture

Her 31-year-old ex-husband, who also pays �12,000 a year for each of their children, aged eight, six and four, had initially offered her �120,000 a year but was labelled mean by the High Court judge, who increased the amount.

PARLOUR'S SUCCESSES 13 years with Arsenal since joining as a trainee Has made 468 appearances for the Gunners Integral member of Arsenal's Double-winning sides of 1998 and 2002 Scored a spectacular winning goal against Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup Final Has won 10 England caps

Mrs Parlour had originally demanded 50% of his earnings, but then said she would accept 37% - around �406,000 a year, aside from the maintenance payments.

She says she steered her ex-husband away from the hard-drinking culture among some Arsenal players during the 1990s - when both captain Tony Adams and England striker Paul Merson ended up being treated for alcoholism.

She also claims he frittered money away on gambling.

Mr Francis told the court Mrs Parlour agreed the marriage had brought her "riches beyond her wildest dreams".

The star's contract is due to expire in June next year and the only certainty is that his income will decrease in the future, Mr Francis said.

The law is that an ex-wife's maintenance should not be "a meal ticket for life", he added.