When Arsenal signed this lanky French kid who had failed miserably at AC Milan, no one really expected him to develop into one of the best midfielders in world football. Yet develop he did, allaying tremendous ball winning qualities to impeccable passing which made him the fulcrum of Arsenal's dominant midfield.

Rumours of transfers abroad persisted throughout the latter half of his nine years at Arsenal, yet when he eventually moved to Juventus it was still something of a shock.