Emmanuel Eboue training with Arsenal in 2009 (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Former Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue has admitted he laughed at Gunners Invincibles legendary star Lauren when he first joined the club.
Eboue was not well known when he first joined Arsenal, catching the attention of Arsene Wenger, who joined him as a youngster from Belgian club Beveren.
The Ivorian looked like a promising talent, but he will always struggle to break into Wenger’s starting line-up with such an experienced name as Laurent.
The former Cameroon international was a key part of Arsenal’s Invincibles side that won the Premier League title unbeaten in 2003-04, and was also part of that double-winning team two years earlier.
Speaking to Ladbrokes at the launch of Ladfaction, Ebou admitted that when he first arrived, Lauren laughed at him when he said he wanted to be a starter.
Emmanuel Eboue talks about Lauren laughing at Arsenal
“When I arrived, Arsene Wenger spoke to me a lot and was keen to tell me what was expected of me,” Eboue said.
“He said he knew it was going to be difficult for me at first, but he believed in me and that was important. When Arsene Wenger says that, you know it’s going to be okay. All he wanted was for me to do my best. He wanted me to do my best.”
“At first it was difficult for Lauren to break into the team because he was already at the club and was a great player who had achieved a lot in his career. But I told him early on: ‘Lauren, listen to me…I’m here to play. Lauren, listen to me.’ I’m not here to sit on the bench.
“He was laughing at me and I wanted to let him know I was serious. You know, even though I was young, I wanted to play. And he helped me a lot even though I was competing for a spot in the team…He made everything so easy for me.”
Emmanuel Eboue is Arsenal’s first choice
Eboue joined Arsenal in January 2005 and took some time to become first choice, but he grabbed his chance with both hands when Lauren was injured the following season.
AFC fans will fondly remember Eboue as part of a makeshift back four that proved rock solid in their memorable run to the Champions League final in 2005/06.
Eboue was one of the unsung heroes of the club, playing out of position at left-back alongside fellow youngsters Philippe Senderos and Mathieu Flamini.
Arsenal continued to use Eboue as their first-choice right-back the following season, but the arrival of Bacary Sagna moved him further forward.
This caused Eboue to become unwell. Eboue’s situation was so bad that he once suffered the humiliation of being forced to come on as a substitute by Wenger, who came on as a substitute.
