An Arsenal cult hero admitted he didn't know whether the manager would come through on his promise
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter
11:05, 31 Jan 2026Updated 11:08, 31 Jan 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom: Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue (C) is congratulated by team-mates after scoring against Villarreal during a Champions League semi-final game at Highbury in London, 19 April 2006. AFP PHOTO/ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Emmanuel Eboue spent almost seven years at Arsenal(Image: 2006 AFP)
Emmanuel Eboue revealed he was sceptical of Arsene Wenger's promise to sign him at Arsenal. The former Ivory Coast international's start in Europe came with Belgian side Beveren in 2002.
After making an impressive start at the club, it was only 18 months later that Eboue was courted by Wenger who he said told him of his plans to bring him to north London. Wanting to bolster a squad that was fresh off becoming the Invincibles, Eboue eventually joined the club six months later but admitted he was initially unsure whether to trust his future manager.
Speaking to Ladbrokes at the launch of Ladisfaction, the 42-year-old said Wenger had told him to remain in Belgium for six months before promising him that Arsenal will sign him in the January transfer window. Eboue explained: "When I was playing in Africa, before I moved to Europe, it was always my dream to play for a big club in England.
"It wasn’t necessarily Arsenal, but I always wanted to play in the Premier League. I wanted to be a part of it all and so eventually I left Africa and signed for Beveren in Belgium. After my last game of the season in 2004, I saw Arsene Wenger and he told me he wanted to sign me.
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"I was 19 at the time and he asked if I wanted to come to Arsenal. Of course I did; it was my dream! To be honest, I couldn’t believe that Arsene was even talking to me. He then told me to stay in Belgium for six more months, and then he’d make sure the club signed me.
Arsene Wenger looks on as Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal controls the ball
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Emmanuel Eboue wasn't sure that Arsene Wenger would keep to his promise(Image: 2011 Getty Images)
"I was a little sceptical at first, but he promised me that’s what was going to happen. He just wanted me to focus and do my job for six more months, which is what I did. And then in the January, Arsenal signed me.
"I was so young at the time, when I look back – to come and play for that club, a club of that size, having played in Africa just a couple of years beforehand… it was all crazy for me. I moved to London with my family, because I didn’t know anything about anything, to be honest!"
Arsenal in the Champions League final
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Eboue failed to win silverware at Arsenal(Image: GETTY )
Eboue opened up about the help he received from former club and international team-mate Kolo Toure who helped him settle in England. He added: "I couldn’t speak English when I first moved to London – I could only really speak French, which wasn’t a bad thing playing for Arsenal at that time, of course.
"But I had Kolo Toure next to me, who helped me so much in those early months… I was able to learn English quickly with him." Eboue's career in north London lasted six-and-a-half years, where he made 214 appearances and scored 10 goals.
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He failed to win silverware during his time at Arsenal and came closest to lifting a trophy in 2006 when they faced Barcelona in the Champions League final. Eboue played the entire game as the Catalan giants earned a 2-1 win as late goals from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti cancelled out Sol Campbell's first-half opener.