The 2003/04 season was your second at Arsenal, how important was your first season though, to feel comfortable at the club?

The first season at any new club is extremely important, especially when it is a club abroad. Even more so at a club with such ambitions as Arsenal, since it will allow you to know if you feel good there. Whether that be on the field playing, or outside the pitch, including the family settling into a new country of course.

What did the manager tell you about your role in the team for 2003/04?

Arsène did not need to specify my role within the group, since looking at the composition of the squad, I could see that I was only surrounded by international players. It was clear that I was going to be a complementary player within this group.

You played alongside Martin Keown, Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell at various stages
– who do you think you worked best with?

I didn't have the chance to play a lot of matches with Martin, but of course I trained with him a lot, but whether it was with any of those three, I learned a lot. I must admit though, that having Sol Campbell alongside me in central defence was enormously reassuring with the confidence he conveyed.

The squad had plenty of leaders, and you were known for your leadership when at Lille, did you bring that with you to Arsenal?

As my status changed after arriving from Lille to Arsenal, my previous leadership was logically erased compared to those of players such as Sol, Jens Lehmann, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and of course Patrick Vieira.

You made 10 consecutive Premier LEAGUE appearances between November and January, and we conceded just four goals during that time. Was that one of your best periods at the club?

When you play it is necessarily because you are doing well. A club of the standing of Arsenal has three or four substitutes in its squad capable of replacing the absent starter on any given day, so if I appeared in the starting 11 that means Arsène Wenger had confidence in me. We all know that he didn't make a lot of mistakes during this season, so this moment is one of the best moments I've ever experienced.

What were your other highlights that season?

I experienced several strong moments, the one we just spoke about of course when I had a run in the team. In all I participated in 24 games throughout that season, which I’m proud of. But also my first goal against Everton in March 2003 at Highbury, or the games at the start of the 2005/06 season when I scored a double against Fulham.

After my second goal, the stadium announcer at Highbury teased me by announcing I was now on three goals for Arsenal – and getting close to Ian Wright’s scoring record! I was putting incredible pressure on Thierry because he was also going for that record at the same time!

There was also the time I muzzled the Inter Milan strikeforce in a big victory at San Siro. The day before the game, the press had promised me the worst time there. My Arsenal journey ended with the lost Champions League final against Barcelona too, but above all these moments, were the moments I shared on a daily basis with these incredible players, which will remain as unforgettable memories for me.

How much did you enjoy training and coming up against Henry, Bergkamp, Pires etc?

These were incredible moments on a daily basis, but it was also very demanding. Like when I had to try to match Thierry's speed to intercept a pass from Dennis Bergkamp, or not throwing myself to the ground when Kanu threw in one of his legendary shot feints, or even trying to win a header against Patrick Vieira. Training every day with such players inevitably makes you progress and makes you better. Then you can multiply that by four years spent every day with them.

How would you describe the team spirit and unity at Arsenal, compared to what you had known at other clubs?

The first thing is that you cannot have good results when there is not that state of mind, unity or strong cohesion in the group. In that unbeaten season we had a feeling of strength. That translated into fear in the eyes of our opponents before we even entered the field, but also once we were on the pitch with a defensive tactic which gave us all the freedom to attack as we wished.

Were you aware of the unbeaten record during the season? Or was it only talked about once we had won the league?

Even before the start of the championship Arsène predicted an incredible season for us. Don't ask me why or how to respond to this hunch. It was mainly the press that talked about it as it progressed, making each victory more and more incredible.

You weren’t in the squad for the title-winning game at Spurs, where did you watch it?

Actually I must have been injured at that time so I had to be watching the match on TV at home. It's difficult to talk about moments that I haven't experienced myself, but winning and being awarded the title at our rivals’ home was one of the most incredible moments experienced by this group. Just seeing the joy on the faces of the players singing in front of our supporters. It’s incredible.

Were you at Highbury for the final game of the season against Leicester? What was that day like?

I was in the stands following another injury. But strangely, experiencing this moment of joy among the supporters was a moment that I do not regret having had at all, because the fervour around me was palpable.

Did you realise the size of the achievement at the time?

To be honest, no. I realised very little at that point, and even now I don't fully realise the incredible feat of being undefeated for that long.

How proud are you to have been a part of the Invincibles team? Is it still spoken about in France?

I think I played 24 games that season, 18 in the league and six in other competitions. Obviously I'm very proud that my name will forever remain among the Invincible Gunners.

Every time a team gets close to repeating it, like Liverpool did a few years ago but especially Manchester City recently, the press, whatever it may be, talks about our record again. And besides that, every time this happens I am regularly questioned by the French press. It’s an honour for me.