Emmanuel Eboue in Arsenal coaching in 2009 (Picture through Jamie McDonald/Getty Pictures)
Former Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue has admitted that mythical Gunners Invincibles famous person Lauren laughed at him when he first joined.
Eboue was once no longer a large identify when he arrived at Arsenal, becoming a member of as a young person from Belgian membership Beveren after catching the attention of Arsene Wenger.
The Ivorian appeared like a promising skill, however he was once all the time more likely to fight to get into Wenger’s beginning line up with an skilled identify like Lauren in there.
The previous Cameroon global was once a key a part of Arsenal’s Invincibles aspect that gained the Premier League identify unbeaten in 2003/04, whilst he’d additionally been in that double-winning squad from two years previous.
Eboue has now admitted, talking to Ladbrokes on the release of Ladisfaction, that Lauren laughed at him when he first arrived and informed him he sought after to be a starter.
Emmanuel Eboue on Lauren guffawing at him at Arsenal
“When I arrived, Arsene Wenger spoke a lot with me and was keen to let me know what was expected of me,” Eboue mentioned.
“He knew it was going to be difficult for me at first, but he said he believed in me, and that was all that mattered. You know, when Arsene Wenger says that to you, you know you’re going to be OK. All he wanted was for me to give my best.
Emmanuel Eboue celebrates a goal for Arsenal (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“At the very beginning, it was hard for me to get into the team because Lauren was already at the club, and was such a great player who had done so much in his career. But I said to him, very early on, “Lauren, listen to me… I’m here to play. I’m not here to sit on the bench.
“He was laughing at me, and I wanted to let him know that I was serious. You know, even though I was still so young, I wanted to play. And even though he was the person I was fighting against for a place in the team, he helped me so much… he made everything so easy for me.”
Emmanuel Eboue ended up being Arsenal’s first selection
Eboue arrived at Arsenal in January 2005 and it took a while for him to grow to be first selection, however he grabbed his alternative with each fingers when Lauren were given injured the next season.
AFC enthusiasts will fondly take into accout Eboue being a part of that makeshift again 4 that proved rock-solid in that memorable 2005/06 run to the Champions League ultimate.
Eboue was once one of the crucial unsung heroes of that run, together with fellow teenager Philippe Senderos, and Mathieu Flamini taking part in out of place as a left-back.
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Arsenal endured to make use of Eboue as their first selection at right-back the next season, however he was once then moved additional ahead when Bacary Sagna joined.
This resulted in a lack of shape for Eboue, who was once as soon as dealt the indignity of being substituted off through Wenger having being subbed on within the first position as a result of issues had been going so badly for him.
