Arsenal Could Find Unique Purpose In Emmanuel Eboue Return

Arsenal may be down a right back soon enough and with that in mind, it would not be the worst idea ever to go after Emmanuel Eboue for Arsenal return.

Arsenal’s right back situation was turned on it’s head when Hector Bellerin took over. A 19-year old kid suddenly becomes the first choice right back of a top tier club and a French international gets benched and subsequently frozen out. That’s where we are at right now.

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Mathieu Debuchy is all set to move on this winter for either a loan or for a straight sale, with the latter being a better option for all parties.

Whatever the case, Arsenal will more than likely find themselves down a right back by the end of January. Wenger has proven in his past dealings that finding a replacement may not be on his agenda, but it’s hard to overlook an opportunity when it announces itself on SkySports.

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Emmanuel Eboue played for Arsenal from 2005-2011 and became a favorite at right back. He was part of the down years at Arsenal, but given the quality he possessed, it was clear as to why he was a consistent member of the squad. In 2011, Eboue did what everyone else did and dipped out. However, Eboue did not go to a direct rival, he went to Turkish side Galatasaray.

From there, he made 77 appearances before being treated, as he put it, very unfairly and being pushed out of the club. Now, Eboue is looking for a new home and he can think of nowhere better than the club where he made 132 appearances.

“We are looking for options and I would love to come back to Arsenal,” Eboue said.

On the surface, it appears completely illogical. Lose one 30-year old right back and gain a 32-year old right back? Seems daft. But that is just the surface. Dig underneath the surface and we see something much more appealing.

Eboue is not going to require starting time. He knows the situation that he is walking into with Hector Bellerin. It’s not like he will become Debuchy 2.0 in what he expects out of his return. A few substitute appearances and everyone is happy.

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It is not his playing time that Arsenal should be after. It is his experience. Eboue was a part of a much different Arsenal club, one that was at the top, but falling down. 2005 was the last trophy Arsenal won until 2014. In those nine years, everyone left. Only one player remains, and that is Mathieu Flamini, who actually did leave briefly and who will be gone before much longer.

The 2004-05 season, when Eboue joined, was the last season where the gross majority of the Invincibles were still all together. It was a changing of the eras and Eboue had walked right into the middle of it.

Having that knowledge and that history in the mind of a team mate could help Arsenal’s young core understand how special this team that they currently have is. Consider Eboue like a librarian. His experience and potential leadership would build the appreciation of how good life is at the Emirates right now.

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Of course, this all depends on if Debuchy actually does leave and if Eboue is satisfied with limited play time. Both are big ‘ifs’ but it is definitely worth exploring.