One wonders why he's put himself through that at such an age. I mean, at 25, he'd have 10 years ahead of him to earn a fortune from a functioning ankle, but surely now he's made his money and is seeing retirement lurking just over the hill?
He's got the rest of his life ahead of him though; may as well get the injury sorted in any case. I doubt it's about money anymore, or even football.
"Plenty of strikers can score goals," he said, gesturing to the famous old stands casting shadows around us.
"But a lot have found it difficult wearing the number 9 shirt for The Arsenal."