As East-West tensions escalated amid threats and counter-threats over Syria, Arsene Wenger slipped quietly into the Russian capital, proving to be just the man to send into a diplomatic crisis.
There was a gun on his chest but Wenger had the charm turned on maximum, arriving late with a wry and disarming smile through the back door of a press conference room in a five-star hotel to find his audience facing the other way.
Dressed for long-haul comfort in hoodie and trainers, the Arsenal boss was delighted to report a warm reception from about 100 supporters at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport and from opponents CSKA.