How Do You Solve A Problem Like Eboue?
Feb 8th, 2009 by 'holic
The North London derby is invariably a feisty affair. Off the pitch grown men lose all sense of the rational as local bragging rights are contested. I’ve been there, still go there on occasion. Is it therefore hypocritical to expect players not to get caught up in the excitement of the day as well?
I pose the question because of the mixed emotions provoked by Emmanuel Eboue at the home of the bottom-feeders this afternoon. For the thirty-seven minutes he was on the pitch the Ivorian was the principal performer for the visitors. As the Tottenham midfield threatened to over-run Denilson and Song it was Eboue who came closest to giving us the lead.
A hurried shot after five minutes missed the target, but in the thirteenth minute it looked as though the much-maligned midfielder had opened the scoring. Mike Dean had spotted an infringement but the fact there remains confusion about what he saw some three hours later suggests Arsenal were extremely hard done by.
Still upset by that decision Eboue chirped away at Dean when Sagna was penalised for a trip on Modric minutes later. Twice Dean urged him to let it go, and we cannot complain about the booking when the idiot carried on his tirade. The one thing you don’t do when walking a disciplinary tightrope is to flick out a leg at a perceived assailant. It was petty and it was stupid. It left his team mates, already under pressure, facing almost an hour against superior numbers.
By that time we had also lost Emmanuel Adebayor to a hamstring injury that will rule him out for weeks. It was too early to introduce the returning Eduardo from the bench, so Nicklas Bendtner got the nod. Down to ten and without the scorer of eight goals in as many games against Spurs, things looked tough.
Cometh the hour, and all that stuff. Alex Song had been anonymous for that opening spell, seemingly overawed by the occasion. How he turned his performance around though. While Denilson was largely coming off second best in his duels with Palacios his partner obliterated Jenas and anybody else who ventured in his vicinity. If only he could finish he would have grabbed a thoroughly deserved goal when he found half a yard on Palacios from a corner.
If Song was heroic for an hour then another often criticised Gunner, Manuel Almunia, was outstanding throughout. A last minute save in a one-on-one with Modric will be the abiding memory, but his handling and shot stopping throughout was exemplary.
A word too for William Gallas. Regular readers will know he is not a ‘holic favourite, but he gave a leader’s performance at the back. I’m still not sure that his partnership with Kolo Toure will work, but the pair pretty much wrapped up the threat from the hosts powder-puff attack.
As the final whistle approached Robin van Persie and Bendtner were both denied an unlikely winner as the ten men carried the fight to their neighbours. The final whistle was greeted with mixed emotions. The unbeaten run is now eleven, but six of those have been draws, and we cannot afford many more as we now trail fourth placed Chelsea by five points.
There remains the question of the day, stolen from the pen of Oscar Hammerstein, and headlining this piece. What does Arsene do about Eboue? I suspect a few of you will have your own suggestions.
99 Responses to “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Eboue?”
A gallon of petrol and a blowtorch would do the trick mate
Eboue was his usual self… absolutely inept in possession of the football. Three of our midfielders today are what I would call nothing players. I’m not really sure what they do.
But we battled away and got a point so that’s something.
Tell the stupid cunt to get the fuck out of our club. Cocksucker.
please get rid of him……..he is not worthy wearing an Arsenal shirt…..
ACID
Denilson is a disaster, and Kolo is over the hill. As mentioned Gallas and Song had a good defensive game but without any precense at all in attacking midfield we wont ever win shit.
It was so ironic. Eboue had his best start in, well, probably ever. His runs forward were forceful and penetrating. For once, he seemed to have an inkling of what to do when he got there. I think he was extremely unlucky to have his goal disallowed. For me, Woodgate fell over Adebayor. There was no intent to bring him down or impede him IF that was the reason the goal was disallowed.
From there though, Eboue descended into his clown prince of pantomime role. I’ve doubted for some time whether he has the ability to be anything other than a good deputy for Bacary Sagna. I now really doubt that he has the temperament. If he stays after the summer break, it’s difficult to see him be anything other than a squad player as he’ll block opportunities for Ramsey, Walcott, Merida and our new Russki.
This draw wasn’t a bad outcome. It was the one at the Emirates that was the pivotal moment in the season and set up a “how the hell did we go from 4-2 at 89 minutes to a draw” enquiry, that in turn set up a lacklustre defeat at Stoke.
We as fans of Arsenal FC are proud of our rich heritage and intergrity. Eboue is really a disgrace to us. Wenger should have sold him to Atletico Madrid. Now,we are stuck with him at least for another 6 months …..
Not a good result and we lost out on two precious points.
Eboue did a couple of good runs early on but blew the game for the team with his lack of self control. We desperately need players to return from injuries and our new signing to regain his full fitness; then we will have a chance.
What pisses me off more then anything is wenger! Wk in wk out he starts with Eboue in the team? Why not give Wilshire or Ramsey a chance on the right? They cant be as bad as this waste of skin
He needs the old rubber necklace treatment, a bit like the one’s they use in South Africa, where it is set on fire. Seriously though, we’ve had enough of Eboue, lets pray he’s not afforded any further opportunities to play in the midfield of the team.
Wegner…..playing sub standard players persistantly…
Sell him to portsmouth : P
Will we sing a song for Song or
Watch our season Ebb a way
… are Portsmouth ladies team recruiting ?
“Wk in wk out he starts with Eboue in the team? Why not give Wilshire…”
Because Eboue adds physicality to our otherwise small midfield. I really don’t undertsand why people persist with calling for Wilshere to start. Yes he’s talented, but he’s small and a four of him, Denilson, Song and Nasri would get overrun.
This is football, not Pro Evo.
sad thing is this post could well be about praising Eboue’s effort and results today – what a twat he’s thrown away a great oppo to show everyone that he’s worth keeping !
“Because Eboue adds physicality to our otherwise small midfield”
HAAA! is that a joke?
“For me the referee was not good today…I know have to control myself but I did not want to let Tottenham win” Emmanuel Eboue 8/02/09.
I feel like crying
i am so tired of some of these players who constantly let the side down. Adebayor has done it the whole season with his arrogance, and laziness, Eboue does it all the time. As for Denilson, I feel he is a victim of a really bad midfield. If he had come through, say five years ago, with help from players like Ljungberg, Vieira, Gilberto and Pires, I think he would have been some player. Now, he is a player who doesn’t fit anywhere in midfield and his confidence gets worse and worse. Our midfield is really bad, even with a fresh Diaby, and I really can’t understand how Wenger thinks they are good enough.
You’ve got to blame Wengers persistance to play Eboue in the midfield. Most Gooners wondered why we bought Sagna (until we actually saw him play) because most thought Eboue was a good right back. God knows what Wenger sees in him as a midfielder. He would get nowhere near any other top 10 teams midfield.
Which brings me on to the rest of the mediocrity in the team. Denilson not good enough
Song not good enough
Bendtner not good enough
Adebayor……..would be good enough if he gave a shit.
Come on Arsene, swallow your pride and admit you’ve made a few mistakes. Go and get us the class defensive midfielder we desperately need, so Cesc can play his game.
That’s if we can attract a class midfielder if we aren’t in the Champions league.
Dam…..there’s another topic………..
What do we do with Eboue? Same as we regularly did with Vieira through his numerous disciplinary lunacies, same as we did with RvP when he stupidly got sent off against Stoke.
Im sorry but Eboue is not a professional footballer. What he done today is what kids do at school. He should be sold in the summer as he brings nothing but embarassment and disgrace to us all. Also Wenger should of subbed him as soon as he got the 1st yellow, we all knew he was going to do something stupid and get another. How many times are we gonna watch him do this. The guy just dont learn
Poor old Emma, he really needed that goal so I can understand why he was so angry at having it disallowed. Given that he was still unsettled 20+ minutes later isn’t so understandable & neither was Wengers failure to sub him before he got the (inevitable) second yellow.
shoot the useless fucking liability of a CUNT
Yeah…Eboue is retard..unfortunately!!!I felt sorry for him about being booed in game with Wigan,But now I think he deserved it!!Is so tragedic..I think Denilson is invisible for last couple of games,I think he is useless at the moment…Our midfield is a really shity…Diaby,Denilson,Eboue…I just hope A. Arsha will bring some fresch air into the Arsenal…Why Arsene didnt send Eduardo,Wilshere or Aaron Ramsey into???I see Arsenal playing this season really bored ,sleepy ,shity football…I just hope it will change soon…
EBOUE IS NOT THE PROBLEM ITS THE MANAGER WHOS THE PROBLEM , IF WENGER IS STUPID ENOUGH TO BUY HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE , THEN PAY HIM £35K A WEEK AND THEN PICK HIM TO PLAY IN MIDFIELD WHAT DO YOU EXCPECT , IM SORRY BUT OUR MANAGER IS TOTALLY AT FAULT , HIS JUDGEMENT IS APPALING , WE HAVE AT LEAST 6 TOTALLY AVERAGE PLAYERS PLAYING 4 US AT THE MOMENT AND THE RESULTS ARE THERE 4 ALL TO SEE , IM SORRY BUT WENGERS TIME IS WELL UP
Wenger is to blame …. he’s defended Eboue once again in the post match saying it was a harsh decision.
I just wish he started saying things like “the boys better grow up soon to be men mentally , else…..”
u lot need to chill out and see that song and eboue have grown into good decent players. you should get behind them instead of booing them off. shame on u
SENGH ……… THET ARE DECENT PLAYERS AT A SHIT CLUB LIKE SPURS , BUT NOT AT A TOP CLUB LIKE OURS , I DONT WANT AVERAGE I WANT WORLD CLASS
Knock the capslock off, Pauly. Thanks.
Wenger picks the team and is “totally” responsible for our lame displays this season.
Eboue is a lame player (on average) giving away the ball 10 times during a match (that he normally plays 70mins of).This kind of performance is totally unacceptable at this level and at such a big club.
Adebayor is a donkey in comparison to the likes of Torres,Eto or even Robbie Keane. Last season was a fluke (think Michael Ricketts).
People keep saying we need a big CHalf but our defensive record has been the most consistent part of the team for 2/3 seasons.
The weakness of our midfield is what puts our defense under severe pressure wk in wk out.
Song is technically and intellectually deficient to play DM or CM.
Compare him to XAVI,INESTA he is a Championship player.
Let’s hope we get to the UEFA cup next season because we will NOT be playing in the CL if Wenger continues to make such poor tactical decisions prior to and during matches.
The crash and burn of this team maybe a good thing.
I think AW needs to go back to the drawing board and think super hard.
Wenger will have to do a massive rebuilding job in the summer but will there be any money ??????
Just to bring some much needed perspective to PAULY H – talking about buying top players to compete. – something interesting I noticed today… Rio Ferdinand cost as much as the entire team that started today for Arsenal. Look it up – Rio cost £32m from Leeds.
Almunia – 1.1m
Clichy – 150k
Gallas – discount on Cashley
Toure – 150k
Sagna – 6.5m
Eboue – free
Denilson – 3m
Song – free
Nasri – 11m
Adebayor – 6.5m
Rvp – 2.75m
Total = 31m
We’re following a team which is punching way, way above its weight every week. We should recognise that we have no right, financially speaking, to do as well as we do. Our team is probably the second best in the league at the moment, and until Arse Shaving joined, it was 13th most expensive (now it’s 8th). The myth of the big 4 being a financially secure impenetrable collective is nonsense – we haven’t bought success, and long may our success based on teamwork, insight and genius continue.
If Glazer’s Man U, Roman’s chelsea or Yankee Liverpool or even Randy’s Villa win the league, they are victories based on massive cash injections and are, IMHO hollow.
For me the only signing we should be making is Martin Keown for defensive coach – I can’t bear the lack of professionalism that sees us start slow against lousy teams.
Eboue? This has gone much further than a sick joke. Ok, being a shite player but still getting picked to play is not his fault, but how many times have we seen him dive, cheat, give up? I cannot work out what the hell Wegner see’s in him. We just knew he’d get a second yellow ’cause thats how stupid he is.
He is simply nowhere near good enough to wear the shirt.
The only thing i can think is that he’s got something over Wegner and is blackmailing him.
Seriously though, Wegner should not be sticking up for him. He should say that he is gona fine the cunt 2 weeks wages for losing us any chance of getting 3 points today, then employ someone to shhot the fucker.
We lacked composure in the first half as a team apart from Gallas at the back. Nasri in midfield and Van Persie upfront. We are carrying too many average players, this midfield of ours is the fifth best in the country. Its the reason of our position in the table. Song improved in the second half but he is still not the answer. He is not agile or dynamic enough to play in midfield. Eboue offers pace but he lacks end product. He shouldnt play for Arsenal again! Wenger should also fine him as his petulance behaiviour cost us an important 2 points
Why did Wenger drop Djourou? I am still optimistic about finishing fourth. Walcott, Cesc and Arshavin will improve us. We have an easy run coming up. Villa have tougher fixtures. The business end of the season is upon us now. We were flying at this point last season and finished third. Top 4 is still acheivable
Everyone blaming AW is stupid, he can only work with what he’s got. Look if you have a squad thats loaded with injured players & now add Ade to the mix then what do you expect ppl?? Come on now this has got to stop with the weenie wine’ing, get behind the Arse!! I do think it’s gonna be tough to get a 4th place spot this season, my only concern is if we don’t get a CL spot who’ll leave the club for greener pastures like RVP or Ade or Cesc (Gulp) that should be your concern keeping what we have and think about ’09-10 season. I believe that this club is only a few players if that away from surprising everyone, and AW deserves that chance and respect; oh how we forget…. Focus on Chelski and forget Villa and the title etc… focus-positive thoughts for AW and OUR beloved Arsenal! This Yank is out y’all!!
Very good review, ‘holic.
And a malt for me please.
Cheers.
You should expect more from a professional.He must know he is playing against a ref who never gives us the benefit of the doubt.
Wenger will support him publicly but I suspect his days are numbered.
Lots of positives from the game.Great performances from Manuel,Sagna and Gallas.Song got better as he game went on.
Seeing those slime jeering Clichy as he was carried off blood pouring from his head just reafirms what pond life they are.
They wont go down.Crap floats.
MarkY P you brought a nice perspective.
Cheers.
I blame the boss as any fool could see what was going to happen. He should have sent him off before that spud biased ref did.
i’m sorry but i think that’s the last game eboue will play for us (in midfield)..he’s a cover for sagna nothing more..he’s playing there just to make up the numbers cos we’ve got no natural wide players that can take on players and link up play..we’ve lost theo and rosicky thru injury, arshavin is not match fit and so too is eduardo..the only wide players we’ve got now that can challenge for the first team is the mexican wizard vela..wilshere is still inexperience..
AW made a mistake in playing denilson in the centre, he’s not good enough..can’t tackle, create and shoot and he gives the ball away too easily and so does diaby..it should have been nasri in the middle alongside song with vela on the left..and adebayor has lost his appetite, he doesn’t know what to do when he doesn’t have the ball..no intelligent run from him..so let’s fight for fourth place to keep the players happy and next season will be ours..
so next game onwards should read the following line up,provided the players are match fit..
almunia
sagna djourou gallas clichy
arshavin song nasri vela
van persie eduardo
What does Arsene do about Eboue?
Give him another chance. He deserves it. <– Only one person in the world would say this.
my oh my oh my oh my oh my oh my oh my oh my
UEFA CUP? i thought people losing their everyday jobs are bad enough. what next?
we clearly lacked any sort of pace today upfront , i think adebedonkey getting injured will be a blessing in disguise over the next 4 weeks , as for coming top 4, i think it shows how far we have slipped behind in the last 18 months because this has become our new target ………..all very sad really from where we were not long ago
izham….aka the voice of reason
This a warning sign. The sooner he is sold the better. But as long as AW is still boss he will still be there. I’m afraid his inconsistent displays are too many and this is not the first time he has been sent off . In short he is an accident waiting to happen.
No wonder Arsenal are suffering. I blame AW for his refusal to look at the shortcomings of the team.His optimism that Arsenal could still win the title is beginning to sound hollow.
i tell you what he will be forever asking for patience when with a splash or two Arsenal could challenge.As it is his buy potential is beginning to cause Arsenal’s season to flounder.
i’m about to launch into a tirrade of cliche’s, but i’ve never felt more tired of this.I feel like the silent minority in my respect of emanuel eboue.
The above article was one of the only sensible blogs that i’ve read on th e subject. I’m not denying the mans intelligence or his ability to make decisions, but before the sending off he was by a country mile our best player, and we should have been onenil up at this point, which would have completely changed the “fans” perspective of him.
Wenger sticks by him, the general consesus are calling for his head. I personally think that this situation has been caused by the so called fans of the club that have been booing him and giving him stick. Outragous , really – to do this to one of your own. The fact that this has happened as heaped more misery on him.
Most people seem to of forgot in Henry’s last season, Ebouse was by far the best right-back in the country, bombing up down and providing some of the best crosses i’ve seen to assist more goals than he’s given credit for. He has bags of talent, technically brilliant and is learning a new position – if we’d have given him more time we could have seen soem of this player – but unfortunatly you seemed to have ruined that. he may go onto being that player but not at Arsenal.
why does everyone put Vela in their prefered first 11?
he had a decent pre season (didnt they all)and 2 good games against two average teams.
im not saying he wont become good , because i think he will, but at the moment he wont cut the mustard.
Wenger should sell Eboue to Manchester United or to Conventry.
eboue is a diving cheating useless and spineless individual.he cant even apologise without blaming someone else.he must be a good shag for someone at the club coz there hanging on to him.
wiltshire and ramsey let them loose, there no scum like eboue.
he was booed against wigan and we all did the right thing and tried to help him get his confidence back- but he can fuck off to spain coz they love diving and cheating over there.
eboue he comes from afrika
and hes way worse than kaka
now fuck off.
Buying Arshavin and Walcotts return would I think mean the end of Eboues chances – with Ro-sickys return – I think we’ve probably seen the last of him.
Eboue needs a strern kick up the kiver from Wenger. Not “He is a sensitive boy” bla bla..
He is a brain explosion waiting to happen… these childish tantrums every time he doesn’t get his own way and the finger pointing like “he did it to so its ok”!!! what the??? He dead set need to grow up or adjust his tampon or something…
Eboue, take responsibility for your self no excuses.
Wenger, stop wrapping his ego in cotton wool.
A man is founded in the truth not their own hot air.
“How Do You Solve A Problem Like Eboue?”
Well . . . . oh, I can’t be arsed. Life’s too short . . . .
well done james for posting a pro eboue response. some people on here may have over reacted to his constent cheating, diving, all round poor distribution, snid atitudude and of course today his choice in making sure we played with 10 men with an hour to go. His dive against a small team in the FA cup trying to cheat his way to a penalty was an all time classic as was his dreadful dive in the Champions Leauge final that led to Sols goal. However, as your post was put 13 minutes after closing time, I assume you are completely hammered and are just having a laugh.
It’s ok Garrett, I know your solution would involve a length of rope and a stool 🙂
The real disappointment for me with Eboue was how unnecessary the sending off was. He had started the game brightly. Then two ridiculous acts of petulance and he is off. The problem was it was so early that it would have affected the whole game. I am sure that if after 60/70 mins, if it was still 11 v 11 and 0-0 then we would have seen the likes of Eduardo or Arshavin or both. However, AW’s hands were somewhat tied by the petulant Eboue.
Few bright sparks for me. Thought Gallas had another very good game. I think he has been as good as anyone since he lost the captaincy. Song played well in spells but we created very little, AGAIN. I feel a bit sorry for Denilson. I do think he has a bright future with us and agree with the earlier posts about a lack of a mentor. He has not had half the quality Cesc had when he was learning his trade.
Yet again no width. When was it that our full backs stopped being able to put a decent cross in? We looked labored at times and desperately need Arshavin to hit the ground running and for Theo to get the all clear asap.
Our next run of games are all games that we should win. We need to do so if we have any chance of rescuing this season. I agree with Pauly when he says that just aiming for 4th is not good enough. We should be better than that. However, if offered it now I would rip their arms off. That can not be right, surely??????
One final point. Why are we putting out the midfield we have, but a few years back considered Palacios not good enough???? Might have missed a trick there.
our season officially starts NOW with 3 of our worst players so far this season out for the next couple of games at least – Adebayor, Eboue and Clichy. Adebayor is lazy and i suspect his heart now lies elsewhere. Eboue has been giving us too much trouble and watching him giving away possession times after times is frustrating. Clichy is complacent due to lack of competition in his position. Eduardo, Arshavin and Gibbs will all have a point to prove and i am sure they will give 110% percent on the pitch. If song can repeat his heroic performance, i will be more than happy to keep him alongside Cesc.
The man’s a joke. He even gave his son the middle name ‘God’, for god’s sake. A prize clown!
If it was Ferguson or Mourinho in charge Ebbo would not have played a single minute the moment he lost the ball or started affecting the team dynamic. Those guys are ruthless – and successful – and that’s what the modern game is all about, unfortunately (fortunately?). I love Wenger to bits, but one can’t help but think that he is too caught up in not upsetting the players by trying to please them all. To be in creating harmony rather than success.
p.s. Can’t wait to see Eduardo back in action!
I think he should be used as leverage in a player + cash trade for someone we really want in the summer. A centre half or central midfielder, given that we have youthful depth in the right midfield position (Wilshere, Barazite, Randall).
I don’t like having to say it. I’ve stuck up for the guy in the past. I think he’s a plainly nice guy, and he has some qualities that I like – he’s loyal and he cares, and he does offer a balance to our midfield. He even adds an attacking impetus even if his final ball has gone to shit lately.
But I think what he did yesterday was pretty inexcusable. Two incredibly stupid yellow cards, and after I saw his kick at Modric he really couldn’t have any complaints. That coupled with some other things that’ve happened this season (poor performances mainly) mean he could be a very useful makeweight in a transfer this summer.
Arsene needed to protect the interest of the team by recognizing that Eboue was getting caught up in the emotion of trying to defeat the scum. His insistence on chattering at the officials (for his first booking) should have been ample warning to AW.
Eboue was selfish and daft – but ultimately, Arsene is the one at fault. Save the experiments for the Carling Cup. This is the premiership, Eboue is cover for the right back. Period. Our midfield CANNOT include this persistent handicap. I’m happy about Arshavin but where are the “other targets”? We need team options which would keep Eboue where he belongs and where he can best help from – the stands.
I can understand all the eboue bashing, and I’m guessing with a few of the injured players back and the new signing he might not get so many games.
However I think sometimes people are a bit over the top. Agreed he shouldnt have kept talking back, but if you look at it the referee actually books him when he is asking him about blowing the whistle and taking the free kick early. As for the second offence agreed is was silly.
He is one of the few defensive minded right sided players we have, and technically his touch easily shows up many in the side. If you look back at the best Arsenal games of the past (Villa last season, Reading) he is often found in the side. He is an example of the type of one touch, triangular pass and move, dynamic play anywhere player Wenger enjoys and want to build his team of.
At the end of the day he was wound up for the game like us all which though a little uncontrolled I would like to see from a few more players in the team who are maybe more media/interview friendly but to me don’t of late care.
The problem with the team is RVP and Ade are not a striking partnership and too individualistic, without Ade the team will flourish…
I’m afraid Arsenal since 2004 have gone backwards. From a position of strength ,Arsenal have not been able to build on their success.Why is this so? Ask AW.
His gradual weeding of players on the 30 year old mark has deprived the gunners of experience which he acknowledges and refuses to rectify by getting kids with potential.
Today’s game is another example. Don’t for a moment think AA can galavanise the gunners. The problem is much more than that.
The central defence has cried for a commanding guy and same for the goalkeeping slot.Yes all gunner fans know the gunners have been deprived of leading players . That’s what seperates the great manager/side from the good side /manager with the ability to reshuffle the pack.
Frankly AW has been given too much authority/time to right things and has not done so.We all know he can walk into any top club right now and will have unlimited funds but he will be fired if things go wrong from an early stage. That’s the difference between managing Arsenal,where he is treated like a god,and othe clubs.
I hope Educardo gets to partner Van Persie in Ade’s absence. He has featured in 4 reserve matches so far and look sharp. He needs just one more matches – Croatia’s friendly with Romania in midweek before he is ready.
Source:http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/u18s-step-up-as-eduardo-completes-reserves-tenure/
What I didn’t understand was the no changes policy. We haven’t scored in 3-4 matches yet AW plays the same uninspiring midfield. And why wouldn’t you throw Arshavin on for 10 minutes just to try and snatch it? 4 years ago we would have been going all out to win a match like that even with ten men, settling for a draw is a really bad sign and we will struggle to make top four from here on in.
My next match selection:
Almunia
Sagna Toure/Djurou Gallas Gibbs/Clichy
Ramsey/Arshavin(if fit) Denilson Nasri Vela/Gibbs
RVP Eduardo/Bendtnar
If there was a poll of the least favourite Arsenal players of all time there could only be one winner. Only Cashley would come close. I disagree with Wenger on two fundamental points – one is that Eboue provides “defensive balance” and the other is that he is a “pass master”. Both comments would be laughable if le boss wasn’t being serious. I love Arsene and everything he has done for our club – but every time I see number 27 in the starting line up I shudder. The man is a complete and utter liability. I would rather see him leave the club than a defensive midfielder join us. A shocking admission, I agree, but someone of his standing and intelligence simply doesn’t belong at a club that takes so much pride in its conduct and reputation. Please, Arsene, do yourself and the fans a favour and pack him off to Spain asap.
Blaming AW enven Eboue is wrong. Arsenal is the only big EPL club that hasn’t sold its sole to billionaires. It cannot afford to buy 3-4 players for every position like MUFC/LFC/Chelsea/etc. (Although have too much world class depth also has its problems)
ManU has world class players on the bench that it can bring on to stretch defenses and get results. Nani, Anderson, Tevez etc. Liverpool does too…Babel, Benayoun, Torres etc. Chelsea has Drogba, Mikel, Essien, Alex etc.
Arsenal have suffered serious long term injuries to its first choice starters this season. Rosicky, Walcott, Eduardo, Fabregas etc. So AW must use his second string players to start the game (eboue/Denilson/Diaby etc) and this means the next choice on the bench (kids) do not have the world class skill and speed to come on and stretch defenses late in a game.
Hopefully when these players return over the next 3-4 weeks Arsenal may still be able to challenge for a CL spot. In the mean-time dont blame AW, under the circumstances, I think AW has achieved more than any other coach could have with what he’s had to work with.
Pires i think you are being a little short sighted.
AW has made some poor managerial decisions anyone and everyone can see he has dug a big hole for himself:
-Letting Flamini go was a mistake.
-Not selling Ade for 20miliion and paying him 80k a wk was a mistake
-Playing Eboue wk in wk out is a mistake
-Not replacing Gilberto is a mistake
These mistakes have cost the team dearly this and last season.
Having returning players in 3 or 4 weeks maybe too late IMO despite the positive impact it may have.
If we are lucky we may/can win the FA cup but IMO UEFA Cup here we come if AW doesn’t own up and accept his failings thus far.
My heart sank as I heard the midfield. Probably the worst since Selley, Morrow, Hillier & McGoldrich. And even they never all played at the same time.
The booing of Eboue is not good for the club, but how else do the fans let the club know of their frustrations.
I am pro AW but his stubborness is hampering the foundations he lays down. Eboue is a total disgrace and although it is said no player is bigger than the club, he seems to be splitting the club and alienating fans and management. Wenger has to give, should this moron don our shirt again at the Emirates then I hope he has thick skin and some ear plugs. I for one will boo him, it hurts to say. I am angry that my club put me in that position.
On Adebeyor, it is a close run thing as to who I dislike more him or Ebuseless. I was over the moon when he want down, he has widened the gap mbetween the players and fans, why the club ever gave in to his holding us to ransom during the summer mystifies me.
AW we are not far from really challenging at the top but while you insist on Eboue, Adebeyor, partnering Gallas and Toure, Denilson, it feals like we are a million miles away.
the best thing to do is.. to not renew his contract.. we dont really need this guy .. he is a pain..
People need to put some of this in perspective
1 – We have the 3rd lowest net spend of any team in the EPL over the last 5 years
2 – This was done to finance the new stadium. The Stadium will
3 – The new stadium will not truely start earning its potential until the
a) Highbury square flats are sold and the debt is reduced
b) the sponsership deals (that provided up front cash to build the stadium, at the expense of annual revenue) expire and Arsenal can sign deals that give more income per year.
As a result of all this we have had to rely on Youth. We have been upable to pay enough to keep all of our players. We have been upable to build the squad depth needed.
Everyone is bitching about our ‘shit midfield’ when they forget, 3/4 of it is our SECOND STRING midfield. And the one person who would be in our starting midfield is playing out of position.
_____________ Denilson
Theo/Arshavin ____ Cesc ____ Rosicky
Crunch time comes in the Summer. If, once the Highbury Square apartments are sold, the board can’t/won’t invest in the squad, we are going to start seeing players like RVP/Theo/Cesc seriously reconsider if they wish to stay at Arsenal, and thats when we have serious problems.
Eboue is a total failure in Arsenal. Even an U-7 player can be rated higher than him. He is a waste of money, space, and patience. He should not ever be linked with Arsenal anymore.
I still cant see what wenger sees in him. He is not exactly young, not a goal scorer, formerly a good crosser in the ball but is a shadow of his former self, he cant lift a team, he is not a ball winner, he is not a leader, he is not a player with pace, he is one without promise, he cannot even do what 7 year old kid can, he passes the ball to the opponent players more than his teammates, he cannot keep his cool, he is a diver, he is a really bad actor.
As a conclusion, he is crap. By the way I think crap is not enough to bring out my point. It is merely an understatement.
Eboue has always been an easy target for so-called Arsenal supporters and the reasons are well known, and frankly it doesn’t have a lot to do with the game. In any case, I am happy that you did acknowledge that he was our best player till be got sent off. Calling him an idiot is very immature. Can you imagine the lift it woud have given him if he had scored the only goal yesterday, especially after all the nonsense he has suffered from his own supporters. why wouldn’t he lose the plot?
The players are not the reason why Arsenal are going backwards, the ONLINE (armchair) fans are and the players dont care anymore, and honestly I dont BLAME them!
Eboue must be sold. Yesterday was the icing on the cake for me, and he actually did a lot more damage than leaving us with 10 men for and hour. He successfully scuppered any chance of Eduardo making his comback, and Arshavins debut.
Rumour had it that Arsenal were offered actual real money for Eboue during the winter transfer window…..why in gods name did wenger not sell. All that I can think is that Eboue has pictures of wenger in a compromising position and is blackmailing the french master…
Please Eboue….have some self respect and dignity and just F*CK OFF!
I agree with CCCP and Marky P’s comment in relation to the net spend on our team, it is low and without doubt Wenger has kept us punching above our current financial weight for quite a few years (we will grow financially and the long term future looks bright in a economic sense), with this being one of the main reasons the Arsenal fans love him.
Eboue, Eboue, Eboue…….. What to do?? It seems to me that Eboue is the type of player who has to get himself really wound up to perform (we have seen tentative, uncaring Eboue, it ain’t pretty) which means that he often plays on the edge and at times means he can be very frustrating and ingratiating to watch as a fan, let alone play against or referee.
The fact that he is clearly playing out of position is also undoubtedly a factor, as in a creative attacking sense, he is to football what Rolf Harris is to the world of fine art.
Undoubtedly his playing time has been greatly increased this season due to crucial injuries to Rosicky, Walcott and even Fabregas. If these players had been fit, I think Eboue would not be close to the first team.
As a second string right back, or third/fourth string attacking midfielder, he is not bad, it is just unfortunate that midfield injuries mean he is playing a lot just now.
It’s no use stating we spend the least of the big 4. What is football about?Winning trophies and being top of the league.
The rednosed doesn’t bother whether the rd are in trillions of debt.
If Arsenal/Aw are not careful getting out of the the cl is easier than getting in. Of course the season has to run its course but the omens are not good. I know we have AA and top notch players coming back but is there any guarantee they will help to win matches and the cl place.If there is gooner fans can sleep in peace.
Already some tabloids are predicting that top players may leave . Of course it may not be true. Well most of them stayed thinking AW will get players and challenge for honours. Unfortunately it has not been the case with player recruitment with AW buying kids who will deliver in two years time and he expects fans to be patient and pay high admission tickets.
The thing is AW is unlikely to change track with his buying policy.So don’t be surprised then gunners finish fifth and gt dumped out by Roma.
Then what. The blue print will be torn and AW will be asking for patience for the next five years.
I always believe a manager has a certain shelf life like a player.In this respect AW would have been shown the exit door at other teams.
Funny how Eboue, yes him- Mr Scapegoat is once again the ONLY reason why Arsenal continue to underachieve. All I can say is thank God we dont have fans like yours at my club.
It will never be possible to solve the problem of Eboue, his problem is that he has no brains. He is great when charging forward with the ball and can show considerable skill, but when he gets near to the box and has a decision to make he can’t. Either the pass is the wrong one, the pass is miss hit or he can’t decide at all and runs straight into the player in front of him and falls on the floor. This is part of what is so frustrating, aside from the general playacting, which to be fair has improved a bit.
He has been doing this for three years or so now, if he was ever going to learn he would have done so by now. Let Ramsey or Gibbs play, Nasri could play on the right, although Arshavin should be available soon.
Also, not unhappy that Ade is injured. I have been tired of him strolling around the pitch, and whist he was on the pitch yesterday he did not win one header from our goal kicks. When Nick replaced him he won several. Ade seems to be carrying his £80k per week around the pitch with him. Arsene must stop paying him in pound coins!
Sorry Jane, but Eboue has been crap for a long time and we have lots of players who could have done twice the job…remember he was keeping Walcott out the side…umm that makes sense. He has had his chance (far too many) now we can play some of our good players.
Sell him to Spurs.. for world class reinforcements
I must say i rarely comment on websites but sometimes something sticks in me to make me say something and it is usually provoked by something that idiot Eboue has done.
When i read the title headline on Newsnow i was hoping to see, once i clicked the link a huge picture of a double barrelled shotgun. PROBLEM SOLVED!
Only recently i fell in love all over again at the begining of the season and every season thinking this year is our year,and started to use all my disposable income on going to the Emirates once again, and once more i have become disilussioned by the goings on surrounding my club.
Eboue is probably a worse a signing than franny jeffers, and richard wright put together. He exposes all our weaknesses, has no footballing ability and quite simply infuriates me. Absolutely hopless. Upon seeing the team sheet it was meeted with groans i think fabianski would do a better job on the right wing.
Some positives now
Manny is commanding and now getting respect he deserves, i had my reservations before but yesterday he showed he can be a top class goalkeeper
Song had a very good game in my eyes again had reservations but i believe he gives us the defensive quality we need in fron of our back four.
Excuse the rant, as i said i dont write often but felt the need to get some things off my chest.
The only good thing Eboue has done was injure John Terry……………..
Yea Eboue isn’t all that great, and you want him to apologize to the booing crowd? WTF? I wouldn’t have done it either.
I read sumwhere at the top, Denilson is a victim. WTF mate? A victim of what? Denilson is crap, the only time you know he’s on the field is when he makes a mistake, and a lot of them too. He’s too small to support the midfield, especially for DM position. His shots are weak, and his passing is trenchers. Wenger has been pissin me off with forcing Denilson into a starting lineup, he dsnt deserve it. When he matures, and can stand up, stop the other offense, cut the passes. And maybe learn when and how to pass he can come back to the first squad, otherwise he’s got no business playin in a startin line up. The most overrated player by Wenger who dsn’t know WTF is he doin, but of course it’s the refs fault. I’m sure it’s never your fault professor.
Eboue has shot himself in the foot for the last time. With Arshavin coming in and the return of Eduardo and soon return of Walcott and Rosicky. It is surely the worst time (or the best, depending on how you look at it) to get himself suspended. By the time the next prem game comes around dudu, shavings, and walcott could all be back and thank god for that. I really hope Eboue never plays for arsenal again.
I really didn’t agree with the booing of any of player but I have changed my mind. I have never seen any arsenal player give the ball away as much as he does and have a complete mis-understandibng of the game should be played. Diving and cheating is bad enough but when you can’t pass, cross or shoot then you can’t call yourself a footballer. Bobby Pires dived all the time, I didn’t care and we loved him because he had so much class and skill on the ball.
His rediculous excusse of an apology just summed it all up. If he really wanted to win then he wouldn’t have got himself sent off. He should have stayed on and fought like the rest of them.
I’m not sure what Eboue has shown wenger over this season to demand a starting place but if Wenger has the nerve to play him again I will boo and will boo him until the day he leaves. I wouldn’t care even if he scored the winner in the champions league final for us, well maybe i’ll be happy about that, but its never gonna happen so the cunt can fuck right off.
Eboue did make a few uncharacteristically nice runs early on, and yes this is the Norf London derby so tensions run high. But, neither of those are excuses for Eboue. My thinking on things like this usually tracks right along with yours ‘Holic, but this time we go separate ways.
I can accept consistently poor performance from a player, particularly when we’re so thin in the ranks. I can. And after all, it’s the manager who picks the team. But derby or no, he’s done this before. Good runs or no (usually no), he’s done this before. He has evolved a bit as a player, but even if I could snap my fingers and make 50% better, he still wouldnt’ be good enough. And he should not be on the pitch if he is going to consistently behave as he has. And for what? The first incident – Sagna nearly broke that guys’ jaw with his head. He was only cautioned because it was unintentional. There wasn’t even anything to get upset about, but Eboue turned it into something. The second, throwing out a leg to trip “Little Luka”… how petulant and childish. It’s not like the trip was going to stop an imminent goal.
Eboue needs to go. He hurts the team with his very presence and adds virtually nothing.
Sell Eboue to the F#@*ing Spudz! SPUDZ relegation guaranteed!
When is Wenger come to his senses and get rid of this moron?!
EHOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL!!!!
After making a couple of nice runs (which are out of the ordinary for an inept player like him), he showed his true colours – his inability to keep to ball and pass the ball. His incompetence is costing our team and he needs to be sacked. I think I could use every swear word in the book at him and it still wouldn’t be enough. I hate that guy with a passion and seriously hope he never starts another football match in his life.
I have 2 season tickets & have been going since 1971.
Wenger’s stubborn persistence with Denilson, Eboue, Song, players who have no right to be anywhere near the 1st team of Arsenal is a disgrace.
We are 5th in the league as that’s where we deserve to be with the players he selects.
In fact you can add Adebayor to the above list, he is so far below the standard required to play for a club that has our ambition (do we have ambitions to win the CL & PL still or is our aim now just to qualify every year?).
You sell the cunt in the summer post-haste
Eboue….get rid, doesn’t matter where or how, just get rid.!!!!!!!!!
He cost us three points yesterday, he cost us in Cardiff as Van P didn’t get a deserved free as the ref’s mindset was comprimised by Eboues diving. He dived in the Champion’s League final and if we had won that would have blighted our win. He doesn’t have the talent to play for our club, he is an average player. Why does AW persist with him?, he isn’t an Arsenal player.
Nicely put young holic!
Lets be honest if Walcott or Diaby were not injured or if Arshavin was match fit then he wouldn’t of played and he wouldn’t play 90% of matches. Cause he’s behind all of them. I was suprised not to see Vela make the bench yesterday. I;d put him in before Eboue and moved Nasri to the right. When Arshavin gets match fit he’ll be moved to the right with Nasri on the left and Song and Denilson in the middle til Diaby and Cesc return. So Eboue’s sending off might just be his last appearance of the season if we get some players back.
Eboue must have a brain the size of a pea. It was obvious to a pub full of gooners that AW should have taken him off sooner rather than later. It is mystifying why Eboue still has the confidence and support of the manager when this is just the latest of a litany of stunningly stupid antics on the pitch. It almost certainly deprived we fans of the long awaited return of Edouardo, if not a first sight of Arshavin. When I consider that we turned down good money from Athletico for the t**t only a few weeks ago, it almost makes me cry.
eboue is just a very small part of a very large problem , ever since david dein left ,the club has nosedived on and off the pitch , there are problems on the pitch , in the dressing room and in the boardroom , wenger became bigger than the club and there is no one who can or dares to stand up to him , he has become stubborn beyond belief making terrible and costly errors of judgements for 18 months , i feel there are too many supporters who believe the man can do no wrong and will just give 100% support come what may , this is not healthy for the future of our club , he has got to realise we are not going to accept 2nd best and there can be life after wenger
Eboue is just NOT GOOD ENOUGH for a top club like Arsenal, PERIOD! Is he a pro-footballer or a clown as well? He will go on and on like this..with his antics. Why? Wenger allows him to, even defends him. Everytime you see him play, it’s like seeing a cry-baby on the field. Get rid of him, and Adebayor as well. Arsene Wenger is clueless.
The completely baffling thing is this; Wenger does not seem to realise how rubbish Eboue is.
There are only two possible explanations; either Wenger has totally lost it as a manager or he has made a binding pact with the devil.
What to do with Eboue? See if Torquay or Scunthorpe will take him off us on a free transfer. You never know your luck…
‘holic; as a late postscript I have to say the rope and stool don’t seem to have worked as I’ve yet to see a report of St Eboue shuffling off this mortal coil and achieving the deification some people apparently think he so richly deserves.
Is there any way of rectifying the situation? ?
Perhaps another drink?
These drinks appear to be stuck in the late 90’s – if only our team was from the late 90’s too.*
*just trying to push the drinks cabinet a bit closer to the 100’s.
Thank you Snail. A narrow miss on the century…
I know I am a little late on this one, been on holiday! I think most Arsenal supporters are being a little short sighted here…
Wenger knew what he was doing not selling Eboue to Atletico. I believe he sees Eboue as a squad player who can give fairly good back up to Sagna and offers an able body should our right sided attackers (Walcott & now Arshavin) get injured. Eboue is a stop gap whilst little jacky and merida mature. In essence Eboue is a necessary evil (evil is a little harsh but you know what I mean).
Wenger knows that in a year our options for the wings are going to be flooded with crazy talent. Why the hell should he get rid of Eboue with that in mind? Get your heads out of your collective arses and give the guy your grudging support for this exact reason. Whilst he wears the shirt he should be encouraged (and rightly disciplined by Wenger behind closed doors!).
And to anyone saying Wenger should have got rid of Adebayor. Would you not fight to keep your 30 goal striker from last season and pay him more? We all know the quality is there and I am sure he will come back firing!
Come on you Gunners!