27. Emmanuel Eboue

Manu is possibly the most versatile player in the Arsenal squad.

In his first couple of seasons at Arsenal, the Ivory Coast international was a raiding right back. Then he enjoyed a stint on the right of midfield.

Last season Manu spend time in both of his most familiar roles but also popped up in the centre of midfield and even on the left flank as he racked up 44 appearances.

He had a difficult time of it towards the end of 2008 when a section of the Emirates Stadium crowd turned against him during a tense encounter with Wigan. But Manu recovered and found his form in the New Year.

He even found his scoring boots in March, netting three times in the space of six days including a late brace against Blackburn. Manu showed his confidence had returned when he insisted on taking a stoppage-time penalty and then thumped it home.

The arrival of Bacary Sagna and the emergence of Theo Walcott have increased competition for places on the right but Manu is a reliable alternative to either of those two regulars and can add balance to an attack-minded midfield.

Emmanuel signed for Arsenal from Beveren in January 2005 and, within 16 months, was starting in the Champions League Final against Barcelona.

He is also a regular for the Ivory Coast and is likely to represent them at the African Cup of Nations in January - if they qualify.

 

MY YEAR

January

Emmanuel helped Ivory Coast to a 0-0 draw in their first game of the Africa Cup of Nations but the defender was sent off in their win over Ghana. The red card, coupled with the Ivorians' Quarter-Final defeat to Algeria, meant a premature end to the tournament for Eboue. He came on as a substitute in the second half of Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester United at the end of the month.

December

Emmanuel started three times for Arsenal in December before heading to Angola to represent Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in January. At the start of the month Manu offered his apologies to supporters for the defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea. "I just want to say sorry to the fans for both games," he said in an interview with Arsenal TV Online.

November

Emmanuel started both of Arsenal's Champions League fixtures in November and scored for Ivory Coast in their 2-2 draw with Germany in an international friendly. Eboue went under Arsenal TV Online's 'Spotlight', revealing what he'd like to do if he wasn't a footballer. "I would love to be an actor in Hollywood and why not? I always try to make people happy."

More Emmanuel Eboue News