Robert Pires is an Arsenal hero now, but back in 2001 he would not been so widely familiar.
The World Cup winner left Marseille for Highbury on this day 17 years ago, but why did Robert pick Arsenal over some of Europe's other elite clubs?
The answer is Arsene Wenger.
"He called me one day, so I was really surprised," Pires told Arsenal Player. "It was very impressive to talk with Arsene Wenger because I’d known him since a long, long time and he said ‘Robert, I know you since you used to play for Metz and now you play for Olympique Marseille, but next season, I need you’.