Arsene Wenger was flicking through the papers last season when he came across the news.
Harry Kane, carrying all before him at Tottenham, revealed he had been allowed to leave the Arsenal youth academy as an eight year-old.
In fairness to the north Londoners even Spurs - now spearheaded so brilliantly by the England striker - subsequently let Kane go to Watford as a kid before taking him back.
Now, however, he is the boy who could be king at the Emirates.
The critics expressed doubt that he could reproduce the stunning form from last season that saw him smash 31 goals in all competitions.
This time around he has scored twice for England and six times for Spurs, including five in his last three games. Having netted twice against Arsenal in the League back in February, he is primed and ready to go again.
“I read it in the papers.” said Wenger, recalling Kane’s interview on his time at the Gunners academy. “Sometimes you get good information in the papers!”
“So I found it quite funny, you know, and you are always a bit angry as well because I asked why did he go but at nine years of age, boys can move here and there.
“Some people move from Tottenham to Arsenal... At youth level, because their parents find a different job, and they move somewhere else.”
Has he spoken to Kane about him having slipped through his fingers?: “No. I haven’t spoken to him about it. How good he can be I don’t know. I don’t even know who you could compare him with. But I think he can be a top player.”
Asked whether he has ever since been on the Wenger radar, the Frenchman went on: “Once a player is at Spurs you do not even consider him anymore to be on your radar because you do not historically have many transfers from one club to the other.”
What about Sol Campbell, whose move down the Seven Sisters Road made him a hate figure at White Hart Lane forever?
“He was free,” said Wenger. “Campbell was out of contract. We didn’t negotiate any price. He was free. But I think Kane is a very interesting and very strong striker. He has top qualities and I think he will make a great career.”
Tottenham have won just one of their last 22 Premier League trips to Arsenal. Under Mauricio Pochetttino they have lost just two of their last 10 away games in the top flight.
In pics – Arsenal lose to Bayern:
And while the Gunners’ domestic form has been superb - in stark contrast to their Champions League inconsistencies - Wenger knows that the old enemy will be a force to be reckoned with tomorrow.
“They are strong defensively and they can play at a high pace in a committed way.” he said. They have done well, I think they have lost only one game. They have had a few draws but overall they look stable.
“They are a threat every year since I am here. They are always in my memory, in the last 20 years, they always had very strong teams and lets not forget that some periods we were eight nine points behind them in April so they have very strong teams.
“This year they are younger, they work very hard and they will be a tough opponent again - they are every year.”
Arsenal, on the other hand, have won all five of their League games since losing to Chelsea on September 19 to share the leadership with Manchester City. Is it too much pressure to suggest this could be their year?
“It’s not too much pressure,” said Wenger. “It’s just too early. I would like that kind of pressure but it’s too early. We’ve played 11 games, have 25 points. It’s too early.
“If there are five or six games to go, or 10 games to go, then yes. It’s too early. We want to be in the fight of course and will give absolutely everything to do it. I believe we can but it’s too early.”
While defeat in midweek at Bayern Munich has left Arsenal’s Champions League chances looking slim, Wenger is refusing to countenance suggestions that he should give up on European football’s elite competition for this season - or that he could join Spurs in the Europa League.
“While those are all good stories, if you ask my deep gut feeling, I want to stay in the Champions League.” he said. “We will give absolutely everything to stay in the Champions League.
“I think we still have a strong chance but it will be very tight now. Even if we had beaten Bayern, we would be in a position where we have to beat Olympiacos, if we beat Zagreb at home.
“Unless Olympiacos make a result at Bayern, which is not impossible as well. Let’s just try to win our last two games.”