Obviously it was a dream come true – but I found it very hard going because

Obviously it was a dream come true – but I found it very hard going because of the pace and the physical side of things. I found it hard to concentrate at that level for 90 minutes – any little mistake was dangerous… so I had to work very hard.”In Cole’s absence, Clichy turned for advice to another England international, Sol Campbell “Being at Arsenal makes it easier to learn,” he says. “I listen to Sol when we are on the field because he is the player next to me in the defence. Sometimes when I am having difficulties with my positioning he will say things to me during half-time or afterwards.”His words come out breathlessly quickly His excite-ment is palpable Little wonder.

Here is a young kid, propelled from the obscurity of AS Cannes, which was incidentally also Patrick Vieira’s first club, into the big time Already he has 15 first-team appearances to his name. By now, he expected none.”It’s amazing to play alongside the likes of Thierry [Henry], Patrick and Robert [Pires],” he says. “I can remember one minute I was watching them on the television and the next minute I was playing alongside them. Vieira looks after me the most, he’s the most like a big brother, but all of them are great – they have all supported me.”Moments later and Pires wanders by.

What does he think of his newest team-mate? “Ga?Clichy? Who’s he?” Pires says, before adding: “No, seriously, he’s like a little fish in water – he’s doing really well, settling in well. The good thing about him playing for Arsenal is that we will all support him. We can all carry on working together and Ars? Wenger can count on all of us.”Togetherness It is the mantra at Arsenal. “He’s a charming kid and has a lot of character,” says Pires, whose whiskered, long-haired appearance has earned him the nickname D’Artagnan It’s one for all and all for one, then. “He will surely play for France but he’d better wait a while because if not, he’ll take my place! In a few years, he’ll definitely be playing for France.” Clichy is already the captain of the French Under-19 side, and last month was pushed into the Under-21s.