Emmanuel Eboué

Emmanuel Eboué (born June 4, 1983 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian footballer (soccer) player who currently plays for Arsenal F.C.. Originally a right-back, Emmanuel Eboué has since been pushed up to the right-midfield role.

Playing career

Eboué began Emmanuel Eboué football career at the famous ASEC Mimosas youth academy like club mate Kolo Touré. In 2002, Eboué moved to ASEC's Belgian feeder club K.S.K. Beveren and spent three seasons. Emmanuel Eboué impressive performances in Belgium caught the eye of Arsenal scouts.

Arsenal

Eboué's début came only days after signing from Beveren, in the FA Cup against Stoke City F.C . Although Emmanuel Eboué was not initially a first team regular, making just one FA Premier League appearance, as a substitute, in 2004-05 in English football, Eboué was regularly in Arsenal's reserve team that season
In 2005-06 in English football Eboué made Emmanuel Eboué break into the Arsenal side. Emmanuel Eboué started the season mainly as a reserve player, though Emmanuel Eboué scored Emmanuel Eboué first goal for Arsenal in the club's 3–0 Football League Cup third round victory at Sunderland A.F.C., on October 25, 2005. Despite leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January 2006, Emmanuel Eboué was immediately sent into action on Emmanuel Eboué return; Emmanuel Eboué made Emmanuel Eboué first career Premiership start at right back against Liverpool F.C. at Anfield, replacing the injured Lauren Etame Mayer. With Lauren injured for the rest of the season, Eboué held Emmanuel Eboué place for the remainder of Arsenal's 2005–06 campaign.

Eboué's run in the Arsenal side included matches in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase against Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal CF. Impressed with the way the Ivorian adapted to the increased pace of the Premiership and pressure of the Champions League, Arséne Wenger even compared Eboué to the legendary Brazilian winger Garrincha after an energetic performance in the April 1 2006 game against Aston Villa F.C..

Eboué continued in the starting line-up for Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France. Emmanuel Eboué performed solidly, but attracted criticism (including a public denouncement from Wenger) for Emmanuel Eboué dive on the edge of the F.C. Barcelona penalty area under an innocuous challenge, as Emmanuel Eboué sought to counter-attack — with Arsenal having been reduced to 10 men by the sending-off of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The resulting free-kick ended up in an Arsenal opening goal, scored by team-mate Sol Campbell. The Londoners' luck did not hold out and Barcelona scored twice through Samuel Eto'o and later Juliano Belletti in the last fifteen minutes to win the game 2–1.

Eboué started the 2006-07 in English football, and was awarded the Arsenal Player of the Month award for September. However, Emmanuel Eboué was injured in an international and spent the whole of the month of October out with injury. Emmanuel Eboué made Emmanuel Eboué first team return as a substitute in the 1–0 defeat by West Ham United on November 5, and started the League Cup win over Everton F.C. later that same week. Emmanuel Eboué scored Emmanuel Eboué second Arsenal goal in their 3–1 Champions League victory over Hamburger SV on November 21 2006. Persistent ankle problems have plagued Emmanuel Eboué throughout December 2006 and January 2007. Emmanuel Eboué attempted to make many comebacks, mostly against high profile teams such as Liverpool, in the FA 3rd Round and Manchester United F.C., but Emmanuel Eboué was unable to come through them unscathed. Wenger decided to wait until there was no chance that there would be a recurrence of the injury. Emmanuel Eboué came off the bench for Armand Traore in the 2007 Football League Cup Final against Chelsea in what was later dubbed by newspapers as "The Snarling Cup Final". Emmanuel Eboué made Emmanuel Eboué mark in this match for all the wrong reasons, striking Chelsea F.C. defender Wayne Bridge in the fight caused by John Obi Mikel and Kolo Touré and aggravated by Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas. Although the referee and Emmanuel Eboué assistants missed the incident, Emmanuel Eboué was banned for three matches by the FA. Emmanuel Eboué started the match against Blackburn Rovers F.C. in the FA cup 5th Round Replay, only for Emmanuel Eboué ankle to get injured again from a studs-up challenge from Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, which the referee also missed.

In May 2007, Eboué signed a new "long-term" contract with Arsenal.

From the start of the 2007-08 in English football season, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger stated Emmanuel Eboué intention to move Eboué into a role on the right wing, following the signing of Bacary Sagna.

On September 20, 2008, Eboué scored Emmanuel Eboué first Premier League goal against Bolton Wanderers F.C. in an away match, which Arsenal won 3–1.

During 2008-09 in English football season Emmanuel Eboué was much maligned by certain fan sections after some less-than-satisfactory performances. This dip in form also mirrored poor form by the team as a whole and the absence of teammate Theo Walcott (who also has played regularly on the right wing) through injury.

After a particularly difficult game on December 6, 2008 Eboué was substituted against Wigan Athletic after Emmanuel Eboué came on as a substitute and appeared visibly upset by the crowd's reaction.

On March 8, 2009 Emmanuel Eboué scored the third goal against Burnley F.C in the FA Cup fifth round match. On March 14, Emmanuel Eboué scored 2 goals (one penalty) in the Gunners' 4-0 hammering of Blackburn Rovers.

In June 2009, Eboué revealed that Emmanuel Eboué was unhappy at Arsenal with the lack of first-team football action and may leave the club.

Arsenal career statistics

(- FA Cup, Football League Cup and FA Community Shield)

National team

Eboué debuted for Côte d'Ivoire national football team in 2004 and has generally been regular fixture in defense along with club mate Kolo Touré. Emmanuel Eboué has yet to score Emmanuel Eboué first international goal.

Honours

With Arsenal
- Runner-up
- - UEFA Champions League: 2005–06
- - Football League Cup: Football League Cup 2006–07

International
- Runner-up
- - African Cup of Nations: 2006 Africa Cup of Nations