Eboue - I have forgotten about last season

By Declan Taylor
 
Emmanuel Eboue has forgotten about last season and declared, “If Arsenal want me to sign a contract, I’ll sign it”.
 
The Ivorian utility man endured some difficult moments last season around the turn of the year. But he bounced back in the campaign’s run-in with a string of impressive performances, and three goals in the space of six days during March.
 
Eboue opened his 2009/10 account with a cool finish in Arsenal’s Champions League clash again Celtic to put his side 2-0 up on the night - four to the good on aggregate - with the Gunners eventually progressing with a comfortable 5-1 victory.
 
Although he stressed he never wanted to leave, the Ivorian has been linked with a move away from the Club in various reports throughout the summer. But, speaking after the game, a delighted Eboue rubber-stamped the issue.
 
“If Arsenal want me to sign a new contract, I will sign because I love this Club,” he said.
 
“I have forgotten about last season and I’m thinking about this season and I want to give my best.
 
“I didn’t think about leaving when the fans booed me - I didn’t say I wanted to move. I’ve got two more years with Arsenal and I feel very, very happy here. I want to prove more with this Club and win something with my team.
 
“Things happened with the fans but I have forgotten that. They sing my name when I play and that makes me feel really happy. I say thank you to the fans for coming to support us.
 
“I didn’t say I wanted to move. I didn’t say I want to leave my friends because I have a big family here. I didn’t say to the journalists that I wanted to move because I am really, really happy here.
 
“The boss gave me some confidence and my friends have helped me a lot so now I feel very, very good when I play.”
 
During his goal celebration, Eboue revealed a message reading ‘thanks be to God’ on his undershirt.
 
The Ivorian may have been booked for the gesture but, for him, it was a personal duty.
 
“I am very, very religious,” he said. “I believe in God.

"Yesterday I spoke with my priest and he told me to do that, so I said OK no problem, I will do that for my God.”

[Thursday, August 27, 2009]

Print this page Email to a friend