Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira persuaded Albert Sambi Lokonga to leave the Gunners and join his Crystal Palace team on loan with a phone call, the midfielder revealed.
The Eagles confirmed the deadline day capture of Lokonga on Tuesday, in a bid to strengthen their squad in the middle of the pitch until the end of the current campaign.
Palace boss Vieira made over 270 appearances for Arsenal in a spell from 1996 to 2005, winning three Premier League titles in that spell.
But the 46-year-old World Cup winner had no qualms with talking the 23-year-old Belgian into joining the south London club for the remainder of their season.