It was a joy and privilege to witness. But, ideally, I would have liked to have watched it in more detail than was possible.
Sitting there in the press box at the small but tidily-formed Gtech Community Stadium, I was well placed to watch the Albion midfielder in his 654th Prem game.
Less than 20 rows back, midway inside Albion’s half in the first period. Overlooking the Milner zone.
And, of course, I watched him on the ball.
There was a misplaced pass which brought ironic cheers from home fans to start off.
Then example after example of neat, tidy, fairly quick and economic use of the ball.
A simple pass to lend possession to Kaoru Mitoma, then something more penetrating to get the winger in on goal via a clever touch from Jack Hinshelwood.
There was a Pascal Gross style turn right in front of us at one stage to create space where it seemed none existed.
And the angled pass drilled to the left ahead of the opening goal.
And at times I glanced across to see what he was doing off the ball.
But, from that perfect vantage point, almost a ringside seat, I would have also liked to have just watched the man of the moment, without the ball as well as with it.
That is no disrespect to team-mates, most of whom were excellent, and the collective display they produced.
But this was a master of his type at work and doing exactly the job Albion brought him in for.
It was the job he did in Hurzeler’s first pre-season and again in the opening two league games, both of which were won, before injury struck at Arsenal
But this was only his third league start since then.
That first pre-season, and the trip to Tokyo, underlined the profile he built before coming a long way south.
Aside from Mitoma mania, there was a lot of attention from Japanese fans on Milner and Danny Welbeck.
James Milner applauds the fans after being substituted (Image: Peter Tarry/PA Wire)
One of the events Mitoma attended was a meet-and-greet with hundreds of fans at a Nike shop in the shopping district of Shibuya.
It was as chaotic as anything gets in Japan and at one stage, with four Albion players up on stage, an organiser asked whether anyone wanted to say a few words.
It felt like there was no script now as the gathered crowd waited.for soething to happen.
After a brief silence with people looking at each other, Milner stepped up and, without the help of a microphone, addressed the room.
He essentially hosted that part of the event.
A small detail but a sign of an experienced man who can take charge when needed and do so with an air of confidence and authority.
Back at Brentford, he was doing media duties pretty much from the moment he stepped off the pitch to when he got on the team bus.
He said with a laugh: “I haven’t had time to check my phone, I’ve been talking to too many of you guys!”
What the longer-term future for Albion’s No.6 role remains to be seen.
There are three or four contenders but none have made it their own.
That is a bigger question for Albion and Milner’s influence can maybe help them find the answer.
For now, his midfield masterclass was a pleasure to watch in as much detail as possible.
And there is no reason why he cannot do it a few more times this season.