As we entered the new millennium, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was well aware that he needed to start breaking up the famous back four that had served the club so well.
Nigel Winterburn departed for West Ham United in the summer of 2000 and while Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon all remained with the club, their advancing years were catching up with the trio.
Adams and Dixon lasted for another two seasons, with both announcing their retirements following the double success of 2002, while Keown called time on his career in 2004.
Replacing right-back Dixon was a tricky void for Wenger to fill, with Ukrainian Oleg Luzhny seemingly not up to the task of performing on a consistent basis in the Premier League.
In fact, by the time that Dixon had decided to call it quits, his long-term replacement had actually arrived at Highbury for £7.2m two years earlier and on this very day in the year 2000.
Cameroon international Lauren had been signed by Wenger from Real Mallorca as a winger and he made an initial impression on the Arsenal faithful by scoring early on in his career against Liverpool.
Injuries then blighted much of his first campaign, but upon his return to fitness, Lauren started to fill in for Dixon in the full-back role - a position that he would go on to make his own during his six years with the Gunners.
In total, he made 242 appearances for the North Londoners, scoring 11 goals in the process. During that time, he was a regular member of the famous 'Invincibles' side of 2003-04, with two Premier League medals and three FA Cups to show for his stint.
Speaking recently about his best ever signing since taking charge of Arsenal, Wenger said of Lauren: "I'd never say which player was the best, but I think it's the signings like Lauren who you spot when nobody else does. He was a right midfielder who I played at right back and was one of the 'Invincibles'."
Lauren left Arsenal in the winter of 2007 for Portsmouth, whom he helped to win the FA Cup at Wembley 18 months later.
He departed Pompey in 2009 and headed back to Spain with Cordoba, where he would end his career following a short spell in Andalusia.
Liam Apicella
