Both Patrick Vieira and Arsene Wenger will tell you there are no regrets on either side about Arsenal's long-time midfield enforcer leaving for Juventus last summer.
Yet there will always remain the question of what might have been had things worked out differently.
Certainly Vieira has revelled in his new life in Turin.
Together with Brazil international Emerson, the former Gunners captain has formed what Juve coach Fabio Capello claims is the world's best central midfield partnership.
Serie A's defending champions opened the Italian league season with nine successive wins, a display of impressive form which the Bianconeri have largely maintained in another dominant campaign.
And there is no doubt the departure of his general in a #13.7million deal left Wenger with a huge void in the centre of Arsenal's midfield, which is only now slowly starting to be filled by the likes of promising youngsters Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby.
Wenger, however, maintains clearing the way for the World Cup winner, who turns 30 in June, to further his career elsewhere was right for all parties at the time.
Once you take a decision, you stick with your decisions. I am never somebody who looks back,'' the Arsenal boss declared. I knew the first year could be difficult without him, but once you make that decision, you accept that.
I am grateful for what Patrick has done for us, but I am focused on what the team is doing in the future.
To show that we have been right by doing this or that, is not important.
What is important is that we play well and that we qualify.''
The pace of the Serie A certainly seems to suit Vieira, giving him the opportunity to enjoy time and space on the ball - a luxury seldom afforded him in the high-tempo Barclays Premiership.
But for the midfielder, it was perhaps more about meeting his European aspirations rather than continued domestic dominance which led to his decision to call time on the Gunners after nine trophy-laden campaigns.
I made the decision to leave because I felt it was time for me to have a new challenge,'' said Vieira upon his arrival in Italy.
But that does not mean I was unhappy or that I was having a problem at Arsenal.
It was just that I had the feeling I needed to grow and meet a new challenge.''
The Frenchman insisted: ``I have no regrets about leaving Arsenal.
I had to turn the page, and I have done that. It has proved to be a fantastic move for me.
When I joined Juventus, I always knew I was coming to a side who would have the players to go far in the Champions League.
The final this year is being played at the Stade de France, where I won the World Cup in 1998, so it would be great to win the Champions League there as well.''
Juventus are hoping that delays to their travel plans are not a bad omen for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final opener against Arsenal.
The Bianconeri were set to leave Turin's Casella airport at 11am on Monday morning but the late arrival of their charter plane forced them to change their plans at the last minute as their flight was delayed by three hours.
The Serie A leaders will hold a light training session on Monday evening at Highbury.
Fabio Capello's outfit appear to have recovered from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Roma.
The Bianconeri played the second-half with 10 men following Pavel Nedved's sending off, but Capello believes his team will be ready.
My players are in good form,'' he said.
Of course, when you have to play for 45 minutes down to 10 men it requires an extra effort but I don't think tiredness will be a factor in Tuesday's game against Arsenal.''
Former Chelsea winger Adrian Mutu will replace Nedved, who will miss the encounter through suspension.
With captain Alessandro Del Piero out of action with a thigh injury, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will partner the team's top scorer David Trezeguet in Juve's attack.
Capello is hoping to recover French defender Jonathan Zebina, who missed the clash against Roma with a groin injury.
Should Zebina not recover, Italy international Gianluca Zambrotta will take his place at right-back.
Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Sol Campbell's is out of theChampions League clash against Juventus at Highbury with a bruised toe.
The England centre-half had regained full match fitness following an ankle problem he picked up after an extended leave of absence in the wake of his nightmare first half against West Ham on February 1.
Manager Arsene Wenger said: ``Sol has a small setback following a bad tackle in training yesterday.
We think it will be 48 hours. It is just bad bruising on his toe, it is nothing major.
I had planned to involve him tomorrow night, but cannot do as he could not practice today.''
Freddie Ljungberg (calf) is also out, while Jose Antonio Reyes (hamstring) is a concern.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is cup-tied following his move from Monaco, while Ashley Cole (ankle), Pascal Cygan (hamstring), Arturo Lupoli (foot) and long-term absentee Lauren (knee) are all still missing.
Team (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Gilberto, Pires, Henry, Djourou, Song, Bergkamp, van Persie, Reyes, Walcott, Diaby.