France, March 23 -- Trust Arsene Wenger to inject an ethereal element into a live TV draw ceremony for a football tournament.

Urged to expand into the exuberance before the teams discovered their adversaries at the Paris Olympics, the former Arsenal boss maintained the detached demeanour that earned him the nickname The Professor during his time in north London.

Fabien Leveque, the master of ceremonies, asked the 74-year-old if he had any words of wisdom for Thierry Henry and Herve Renard as they awaited the names for the French men's and women's teams respectively.

Surveying the throng of administrators, former players and rent-a-gliterati, Wenger said: "Thierry and Herve will have lots of support from me . but also my compassion."

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