Ex-Arsenal and France great Robert Pirès has hit the headlines since his arrival in India a few days ago. In Mumbai, and subsequently Goa, the French midfielder has been welcomed by hordes of fans at the airport, all of them clamouring for photos and autographs on jerseys, and many chanting his name.At the FC Goa press meet in Mumbai yesterday, Pirès was revealed to the media as the club's marquee signing. Overwhelmed with the level of adoration he'd received since his arrival, the Arsenal fan-favourite was all smiles through the afternoon.Speaking exclusively to indiansuperleague.com after the event, Pirès said, “This is my first visit here, and the feeling was very good yesterday at Mumbai airport, so I'd like to say thank you very much to the fans for the warm welcome. I didn't think I had this many fans in India!”The Arsenal connection plays a big role in Pirès' popularity in India, and he acknowledged it himself, saying, “I'm a lucky man that I played in England and at Arsenal. I now know that there are lots and lots of Arsenal fans in India. I feel very much at home, and I'm so glad to be here.”"I feel very much at home, and I'm so glad to be here"Robert PirèsThere's been a lot of talk about the former Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year having retired three years ago. The subtext to that reality is that he has continued training ever since with Arsenal in London, often with their first team. So what did the players and manager there have to say about this move?“Everyone encouraged me. I spoke with my wife, some of the players, and I spoke with Arsène Wenger as well for his opinion. All of them said that if you have the opportunity to play in India, you need to go because it'll be a good experience,” he replied.Now 40, Pirès dispels the impression back home that his move here was dictated by monetary considerations and reiterates that it was passion for the beautiful game more than anything else:“The most important thing for me is passion - passion for football, passion to meet fans. Of course, football is a business as well and there is money involved in the game. Everybody knows that. But if you have the passion, even if you're 40, you can play!”As FC Goa’s marquee player, Pirès is aware that he will have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility and lift up the team. But he welcomes the pressure that comes with the responsibility and is ready to fire on all cylinders.“Of course, this is going to be a bigger challenge for me. I have a lot of pressure on my shoulders, but I like pressure. I played with Arsenal and with the French national team. I know what pressure is like, but the reality is in playing the game, and I'm ready."The fans can’t wait to catch him in action!
