“So ‘holic, we have a day coming up where you could chew the fat with Robert Pires for a while. Fancy it?”

And so I found myself at the final of the Indesit Football Talents competition, along with teams representing Arsenal, AC Milan, Paris St Germain, and Shakhtar Donetsk. The day could only have been better if Eduardo da Silva had been in charge of the latter. Instead I had to put up with Jean-Pierre Papin, the only player to win the Balon d’or while playing for a French club. Readers of my age, and slightly younger, will know what a pleasure that was. The French legends were joined by Gianfranco Zola, in charge of PSG, and Daniele Massaro overseeing the Milan side.

A small group of bloggers were joined by Robert at the conclusion of the Arsenal team’s final match. “Are we doing this in Spanish, or French?” He knows how to put the starstruck at ease. “English”. We know how to make life most difficult for him. But he smiles, shares anecdotes knowing he has a friendly audience who will not do a ‘Steve Kean’ on him, and fields questions with a charm that is infectious.

I’m most interested, given the newly created vacancies on the Arsenal staff at reserve and youth level, if he is considering coaching as an option. Quite clearly, management is not an ambition. “You have to go to one guy and say, you are playing today, then to another and tell him you are not. I don’t want to be that man.” Pushed further though he reveals an assistant’s role would be an option. “You can still be with the team, not remote.”

What we thought would be a five minute opportunity turns into much more. He answers questions about his hardest opponent (of course it was Gary Neville) which leads on to some marvellous recollections of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane. He chats about a mixed weekend just gone, with Arsenal clinching the Champions League berth, and Reims earning promotion in France, against relegations for former clubs Metz and Villareal.

I have to ask him about THAT tackle on Patrick Vieira, “I cannot tell you what he called me after that.” We all share a chuckle at the memory, and then we get on to the subject of his return to Arsenal with Villareal. “How did it feel to have all of the opponents fans singing your name throughout?” He admits it was emotional. “Did it affect your performance?” He smiles. “I think so, yes.” “Good, it worked then”. We all laugh.

Somebody asks about favourite opponents, and one of our number looks on aghast as he replies “I loved Tottenham”. A master of timing he waits a second before adding, “I scored eight goals against them, I think.” No subject is off limits, so I mention Domenech, and that he did not pick the footballer of the year in 2002, because he was a scorpio. He is asked who he thinks will win Euro 2012, and the answer is Germany, although obviously he hopes France will do well.

Asked about Pat Rice, Robert goes into full praise mode, not just about his former coach, but Tony Adams as well. “It was very important to have those guys to keep you on your toes”. We get into dangerous territory once on the subject of former colleagues. “Have you forgiven Jens for getting sent off in the Champions League Final” There was a time that grated. Now the charm kicks in as he recalls playing a fives tournament with Jens three weeks ago. “I have forgiven him, yes. We are friends”

He remains in contact with not just Jens, but Patrick, Thierry, Dennis, and of course Arsene. “He is my father, no seriously”. The respect brings a lump to the throat, being unsolicited and so sincere. I am reminded, as if it were necessary, that I am sitting next to a very special man. He sits with us through most of the Final, signs shirts and assorted memorabilia, and thanks us. Yes, he thanks us.

I do take the opportunity to have a photograph taken with Zola afterwards. The urge to thank him for being a part of the Parma side we beat in the ’94 Cup Winners Cup Final is resisted, probably for the best. When I get a snap with Papin later I also duck commenting that I was one of the few present who remembered him. Harsh, given how young the great man still looks.

I cannot close without thanking all at Indesit (and We Are Social) for making the day possible, and giving a wonderful opportunity for a select and privileged few ordinary fans to rub shoulders with some true greats of the game. You don’t have to tell me how lucky I am to have been there. I know only too well. Thanks all.