It is a question that seems to divide fans worldwide, just how far do you go in critiquing your own team, player or manager?
Arsenal are out of sorts this season. Even taking injuries into account the North London side are dropping points too easily and in some cases riding their luck to win games.
Yesterday's game against Wigan is a case in point.
Arsenal created enough chances to win four or five-nil, but easily could of drawn the game following some sloppy passages of play. As it was, the Gunners won 1-0 thanks to an earlier Adebayor goal that keeps them in touch with those at the top of the table.
However, most of what was a poor game was forgotten and overshadowed by events at the end of the game.
Having come on as a first-half substitute, Emmanuel Eboue was booed time after time as he lost the ball to Wigan and ironic cheers rang around the Emirates as he was replaced with minutes left on the clock by Mikael Silvestre.
Just how right or wrong were Arsenal fans in booing off their own player?
Eboue has never been a fan favourite at Arsenal.
Some see him as a cheat who dives too often and who lunges into tackles that have the possibility to injure whoever it is that may be on the receiving end.
Yesterday, time and time again he gave the ball away to Wigan players in what was a tense last half-hour at the Emirates.
In a bizarre moment, instead of going wide as suggested by Toure, Eboue tackled his own team-mate and gifted the ball to the opposition.
Furthermore, he was extremely lazy on the pitch in the latter stages of the second half.
On the occasions he lost possession, he made little to no effort in retrieving the ball and often Van Persie and Adebayor were tracking back deeper than the Ivory Coast international.
Wenger took him off as he feared that Eboue may cost Arsenal two points.
But, as with every argument there is a flip side.
Eboue was returning from a six-week knee injury and was far from match fit. It was asking quite a lot for him to keep his fitness and concentration levels up for an hour's play after such a long time out.
Not alone that but he came on for Samir Nasri who plays on the left wing. For those not familiar with Eboue, he is best as a right back but can slot in at right wing.
So not alone was he not match fit but he was asked to play in an unfamiliar position in a must win game for Arsenal.
Why did Wenger not bring on Vela or Wilshere?
At that stage in the match, Arsenal were all over Wigan and bringing on Vela would surely have increased pressure on Wigan and may have lead to a much needed second goal for the Gunners.
Bringing on Eboue so early in the game eked of a defensive mindset.
Despite his shortcomings, Eboue has always been Arsenal. There is never any discontent from him in the dressing room plus he usually gives it his all.
So just what were the Arsenal fans booing at and were they right to do so?
Were they booing a player been paid far too much as he showed inabilities in the basic skills of football?
Or were they booing the inept call of a manager regarded as one of the best in the business, as he played yet another player out of position this season which very nearly cost Arsenal more precious points?
Was this just an unfortunate case of Eboue becoming a scapegoat for the shortcomings of Arsenal this season?
Personally I don't boo players that wear the colours of my team. If I ever did they would want to be a serious reason for doing so.
I was at yesterday's game, and while I shouted at Eboue to "Cop On," I saw it as rather pointless and disappointing to witness him been booed off. Singling out one player is a bit much in my opinion.
Nor would I boo or call for the head of Arsene Wenger. The day will come when it is time for him to leave but for the moment I feel he is still the man to lead Arsenal.
There is no better manager for Arsenal at the present time and while he has made some mistakes in the last few years, I feel he has done enough to warrant time to change things around.
Hell, we even won yesterday but their is still some problems within the squad that need to be ironed out. The New Year will say a lot about the Frenchman's character.
To other Arsenal fans, what are your views on this?
To fans of other sides what do you make of all the goings on yesterday?
To Boo or Not To Boo, that is the question!
64 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Samrin Hasib 7 months ago
Hey Maire,
Eboue shouldn't have been booed. A few Arsenal fans just are unable to get behind the team when required. Those were the fans that booed Eboue.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
It was bad Samrin in my view.
It was the loudest the Emirates got all day. I can totally understand the anger the boo-boys felt but to single out a player like that doesn't help matters.
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
I completely disagree.
Vocal fans are definitely thinking about the team when they are expressing themselves.
Its those that sit on their hands and keep munching on their chip butty that are not really behind the team, cause they are tourists and could care less about the club, its history, or its bright future.
Eboue got what he deserved, and he should be a man about it too. Arsene's post game comments talk about him being a sensitive boy, and that he cares. He's in his mid 20s for god sakes - so he is hardly a boy and I'm sure he has had plenty of time to mature from the days when he may have been coddled as a child and protected from such harshness.
But this is Arsenal, this is England, and this is the Premier League. You put in the kind of performance we saw, we PAID to see, and we have seen glimpses of this season, and you'll get what you deserve.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Dimitry - more people booed and jeered off Eboue than cheered on the team. For the first time I can actually saw "I was there - no tv I geard it for myself".
Of course your opinion is valid and there are alot of people that hold it but there were fans behind me that moaned and groaned all the way through - never sang a word - never encouraged, but were up on their feet and booed the life off of Eboue.
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
Well, fans that always focus on the negative are the worst of the fickle fair. There was much to take as positive from the game; the goal, Song getting more comfortable in the holding midfield area, etc etc.
But I for one understand the frustration. The fans are fickle, as the team seems to be fickle in who they show up to play against.
But if I had to chose between cheering and jeering, I would always go with the positive, because its a squad of 11, not 1, and I think that since we moved to the Emirates, we lost that voice we had at Highbury - and the Emirates would be a far better playing place if the fans were all in voice, and that voiced help pick up the team and spured on the players when they otherwise might just sink in to the malaise that surrounds them.
MAKE EMIRATES A FORTRESS! VOICE YOUR SONG! VOICE YOUR SUPPORT! VOICE YOURSELVES AND LET ALL WHO ENTER HEAR AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE THE ARSENAL, AND WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL THE VERY LAST SECOND! C'MON YOU GUNNERS! C'MON YOU REDS! C'MON ARSENAL! C'MON ARSENAL! C'MON ARSENAL!
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Good comment Dimitry good comment
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Shyam Parthasarathi 7 months ago
No, he shouldn't have been booed - but he was very, very poor - it's almost as if his head was somewhere else.. I've never seen a player make such comical errors ever!
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
There was a five-ten minute spell when I didn't know to laugh or cry but not boo.
Nicky Bendtner's name got booed when announced before the game as well.
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Simon Morris 7 months ago
I have been to going to Arsenal fro 30 years and for the first thime felt ashamed to be a supported. I don't think people understand this word. How does it help to boo your own player? What will Fabregas be thinking at the end of the season when he hears his own fans turning on one of his players? Eboue made a couple of great passes and these are ignored. So many 'fans' are just waiting for him to make a mistake and he duly obliged. I saw people show more passion and pleasure in shouting at Eboue then cheering the team on.
All those Gooners who booed him off the pitch, you are pathetic - stay away from The Emirates. Got to White Hart Lane where they have a tradition of jeering their own team.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
You could see it on the faces of the other players - not only does it knock Eboue's confidence but the team's as well. Even the Wigan players were shocked by what they heard.
"I saw people show more passion and pleasure in shouting at Eboue then cheering the team on."
Totally agree with that.
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Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
poor old eboue, nothing went right for him did it? he played very poorly, but i can sympathise with him as i had an absolutely s**t game for my local team today, and if there were any supporters there, they would've been right to boo me off.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
All depends on how many bad games you've had Yoosof and are you on 35k a week?
I don't agree with the booing but he was pretty bad but worse was his lack of effort.
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Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
ha, i wish i was on 35k a week. anyway, i wasn't disagreeing with you mary, yes he had a bad game and shouldn't have been booed off. all i'm saying is that i can sympathise with him, because footballers at any level, from my level right to the top end of the professional scale, have bad games once in a while and people shouldn't be too hasty when they do have these bad games.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
It was all a bit surreal though wasn't it?
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Joe G 7 months ago
I don't think he deserves to be booed, but I also don't think he should be playing in midfield, either. He was at his best as a right back capable of getting into the attack, much like Gael Clichy on the left. I loved watching him play in that role, it's been less enjoyable since he's been moved.
But I would definitely like to echo the sentiments of those who thought the booing was inappropriate. You can't call yourself a 'supporter' if you don't support the team and its players. If anything, Eboue needs plenty of encouragement so he can regain his confidence and return to being a contributing member of a good side (hopefully as a right back.)
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
No he shouldn't of been playing at left midfield - Wenger's call to do that
BUT some of his errors were so basic and really for about the last 10mins before he was subbed he put in no effort whatsoever it was shocking to witness.
I still don't agree with the booing though it doesn't help matters at all in my view.
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Nick Howson 7 months ago
Every player has a bad day Eboue had his on saturday, no player deserves to be booed, its not like he meant to play badly.
Arsenal fans are so fickle its ridiculous they forget how many good games Eboue has had for them one bad hour and suddenly he's a scape goat
How about you blame the players that should be stepping up at times of need such as Fabregas?? Don't see him pulling up tress this season, but of course because he has a reputation fan's daren't have a go at him, Eboue is just an easy target
What a joke you arsenal fans are
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
One - Don't group us all in together Nick - I didn't boo nor did a lot of others.
But you have a point about Eboue being a bit if of a scapegoat
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Andrew McNair 7 months ago
boo'd....def not.....jeered with sarcastic applause...why not :)
Great work Maire and the only time a player should be boo'd is for not playing with his heart on a sleeve.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Yeah the sarcastic applause I'm sure doesn't hurt as much - Gomes at Spurs. It shows your a bit crap and we're not happy but boos are a bit vindictive, normally Ashley Cole territory at the Grove.
Thanks for the comment Andrew
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Martin McD 7 months ago
I agree that Eboue is a frustrating player, but he has made an excellent contribution in midfield on many occasions in the past. His diving aside, I've never doubted his commitment or effort for the club. The problem with his game yesterday was his lack of self-confidence. His head went down and he seemed to be jittery whenever he got the ball. A lack of self-belief needs support, rather than more pressure from the crowd. Anyone watching the match could see that the crowd made his game worsen as the game went on, which probably made the pathetic people doing it feel vindicated. I felt so sorry for him, he looked absolutely crestfallen leaving the pitch. No-one deserves to be made to feel like that, let alone by your own fans.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Thanks for the comment Martin. You are right in that the first time he gave the ball away the crowd were on his back and he collapsed.
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David Kim 7 months ago
I don't think Eboue's problem was a lack of effort, in the sense that he had something left in the tank, but didn't feel like running. the guy hasn't played a football match in a month, and he's probably only been practicing for a few days now - you throw him on in the 32nd minute against a physical side like Wigan, and he's going to get exhausted before the final whistle. if you look at Eboue as a player, what are his good attributes? he's a poor passer, doesn't score goals, isn't particularly tall or fast. what he relies on is physical strength and stamina, and essentially, an exhausted Eboue is a completely useless player.
so why did he sub him on, instead of someone like Vela or Wilshere? in hindsight we can say "Eboue was never going to last the entire game in his condition" but I think Wenger, at the time, wanted the additional bite in midfield that Eboue provides. Vela is a player with few defensive capabilities, and Wilshere isn't much better in that sense. in short, some of the blame does belong to Eboue (after all, he is the only one responsible for the level of his own performance), but a lot of it also has to go to Wenger for bringing him on. in his defence, though, I don't know if he had any better choices - maybe you bring on Silvestre, move Toure to right wing, and play Denilson on the left? that's not too inspiring a substitution in my opinion.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Good comment and levelled headed.
I think some are forgetting we actually won the game. Whether or not Eboue would of gifted Wigan a goal is if and buts time but Wenger couldn't take the chance. Knowing how much Wenger protects his players it must of crushed him to have to take him off.
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JJ 7 months ago
to pay a ticket, come to the state of art stadium and then to shit there booing and slagging 1 own single player is absolutely dirty rotten swinishness. stupid f*ckwits. everybody in the world now has seen what kinda spoiled brats arsenal has among its supporters. disgrace. smut on the great club.
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Alden Sing 7 months ago
I don't think he should be booed. I was watching the game on telly and much as his performance was horrid, i thought he didn't really affect the overall sluggishness of the game till the last bit when he 'tackled' Toure.
The problem should lie in playing Eboue out on the left. What was Wenger thinking? To have a player who is not match fit playing out of position on the left is suicidal. No wonder it was such a poor performance. I felt he could have easily rectified it by changing Denilson with Eboue on the flanks and hey presto, problem solved.
Judging from past performances, I think Denilson would have been a better fit down the left.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
I think Wenger would of been damned either way, I feel regardless where Eboue played he would of lost it, his head was not there at all. I say we won lets move on and if Eboue plays against Porto or Boro give him a bit of encouragement.
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Nathan Lowe 7 months ago
These players are paid millions; they must play better than the fans could. You would be doing a greater injustice to cheer a player who plays poorly; the effect of the negative reaction to his poor play helps the player to acknowledge his poor form, get angry about it, and redress it.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Depends on his mental strength Nathan.
I feel Gallas has played really well since his outburst. I guess now we wait and see what team Wenger puts out next time or if we see Eboue again. Give him a chance to right this?
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Rav de Mel 7 months ago
I'm just wondering what everyone here would have said if Wigan had scored and the game was drawn, it's all well that Wenger persists with a policy of buying youngsters, but by doing he must take the risk of playing them.. as someone above mentioned it should have been Vela who should have replaced Nasri.. Eboue we’d all agree is mediocre comparative to what is expected at Arsenal.. whilst it’s hard to condone any player being booed by own fans, can one really blame any fan for venting frustrations of the past few weeks?
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
What if Wenger brought on Vela and we were over-run in midfield and still drew the game? Hindsight is a great thing, we can't say for sure but surely Wenger couldn't of have foreseen Eboue's collapse could he?
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Callum D'Souza 7 months ago
i thought it was horrid to boo eboue he has just come back from injury and you can not expected him to be magical. you dont boo your own players
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
"you dont boo your own players" - I'm with you there Callum especially when a lot doing the booing couldn't be bothered to cheer on the team in the first place.
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Caleb Jones 7 months ago
Yes he should have. While many a blog have waxed about being a supporter and a fan the sad truth of sport in general is its a business. And in any business the top performers are rightly lauded while the poor performers are eventually fired. As a fan (an Arsenal one) I pay alot of money and spend a fair amount of my free time watching the Arsenal and if my hard earned money is going to his wages I feell (rightly or wrongly) I am entitled to vent my opinion. Eboue's abject display was not only shocking but insulting to me as a fan, forget the rubbish about always supporting your own. Football today is about winning and at all costs, to ignore that is out of touch of the reality of modern sport which idolizes and villifies at the drop of a hat. Its rather strange to me that in England if a player makes a atrocious tackle or use of the arm it is quickly dismissed as being "strong" or "mistimed" while a fan's vocalization of high standards is "disgusting". IT's also ok to abuse referee's because they're not people are they? The sentimental media is so quick to take umbrage to any percieved assault on the "good old days" on the spirit of the game which no longer exists and hasn't for a while now. The commentator made some silly remark about glass houses, to which I would respond that I am told to get my s*** together when I make a mess of it at my work. Plainly Eboue was poor, the fan's rightly told him to f*** off, get over it.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
That is the other side of it too Caleb and thanks for pointing it out.
To me I try to keep my ideology that sport is a sport but I know I am in la-la land a bit with that but it is just me. I paid money I didn't really have to go to saturday's match but I still wouldn't boo him but that is just me but I do very much see your argument although one I am not in favour of.
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Jamie Ward 7 months ago
You want your team/business to win/prosper dont you?
To gain success and make money?
Then dont boo players who can affect how the game turns outand cost you points.
It was clear to see the boo's started to affect his game resulting in him giving up, what if as a direct factor of the booing, eboue made a mistake that cost arsenal a goal of even two?? would the ''supporters'' have taken the responsbility that their negativity contributed to the arsenal loss?
I highly doubt it, it would have been the attitude that ''we told you''
This may be a business world, but its still people playing a sport.
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obert chikwature 7 months ago
as a gooner i have to say we are fickle at times and it showed against wigan.............pathetic from the fans, turning against your own. Put yourself in his shoes! would you want that? no! so why dish it out? we need to stick together thru thick and thin. we r one T.E.A.M : Together Everyone Achieves More!
am disappointed to say the least. hope eboue is mentally fit........! the whole game the fans wer silent only to start making noise jeering eboue! i feel like cursing everyone who booed him, but that dont help! and Caleb you got your lions crossed chap!
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Cheers Obert - I am glad I'm not the only one who feels a lot of those who booed were totally silent up to that point.
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Benjamin Rogers 7 months ago
In some ways I felt realy sorry for Eboue, yes he played bad but come on he's just come back from an injury. In truth I like eboue, he has grit and determination. The only way Arsenal can win the title is if the fans, players and manager work as one and not against each other.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
I'm not hugely gone on Eboue but I think he can do a filling in job at RB if Sagna is out, Saturday surely is a one off it was so dreadful, guess we have to see what happens.
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
I didn't boo Mr. Eboue, because I didn't watch the game.
However, I have yelled at him quite a lot during his Arsenal career - and I've yelled (I'll admit, I've bitched and moaned at him quite a lot) because for me, he exemplifies all the things I don't like to see in Arsene's post-Unbeatables squad, and he's also typifies the sort of football player I despise. He's a reckless player, both offensively and defensively, and I for one don't think he has any business being on a Premier League pitch, let alone wearing an Arsenal shirt.
I think much of what he caught at the tail end of the game was the culmination of weeks, months and perhaps years of supporter and fan frustration with him as a player. He's the sort of player we hate seeing play, because he's the direct by-product of Arsene's recent dry spell of transfer window cheapness that see's our squad lacking in many vital departments. He is poor offensively - he never seems to make the right pass, and his shot taking is absolutely dreadful; and his defensive play is both timid and gutless - he doesn't track back when there is a mistake and he chooses to limit is pace when making a defensive play vs when he is in an offensive position.
Basically, I think he is a pretender of the highest sort, and he got found out after being out for 5 weeks.
And I don't buy all this crap that he should be given a break cause he was out for so long. That is pure bollocks. As a player, he would of been asked and assessed as to his match fitness, his willingness and his fit in to the squad. He had the belief of the manager, he was not booed when he went on so he had the belief of the stadium faithful, but he let his team, the fans and himself down by not coming up to snuff.
And so he got what he deserved. He was embarrassingly substituted (Arsene has never substituted a player in that manner - he has substituted players who were put on the pitch if they got injured suddenly, but he has largely allowed a player to find their form or otherwise get back in to the game).
He gave Eboue that chance, and Eboue blew it. He knew it, the manager knew it, the fans knew it, and they let him know that they likely knew it all along.
I'm actually glad the fans got more vocal in their dislike of his performance and their lack of support for the manager picking him to play. I doubt you would ever see that kind of reaction for any other player on the squad. I think for many fans, Eboue has always been seen as a stand in player - someone who is just filling in the spot until someone much better gets fit again, or gets purchased to fill that role. He has never really been a fan favourite, and I doubt very much anyone has purchased an Eboue replica jersey.
I also think there is a part of the fan reaction that is being missed in all this, and that is the cynical cheers that went up when his number came up as being substituted off. I think for many fans, it was far too late on the part of the Manager to act; and that they have felt that way, and continue to feel that way about so many of Arsene's decisions, tactics, and assertions post the-Unbeatables. Sure we love the sizzling play of our youngsters, but we do expect our first team to put in a herculean effort week in week out, top-four team or not. We don't care who the opponent is, we expect the team to show up with a willingness to do what it takes to win the game, at its most dazzling and at its most simplistic and sometimes basic level.
Eboue for many, I think, exudes too much of the weak, timid, spineless streak in the Arsenal squad that fans have come to see too much in the past couple of years. And I don't just mean gutless challenges for a 50/50 header (where we see players do things that we as kids were screamed at never to do - never go in to a challenge with your back leading in, for example) or avoiding the option for a harsh, face on tackle that would of either resulted in winning the ball or at least, slowing down the opponent's play so that the rest of the team can regroup defensively. There is a slightness, a frailty to this Arsenal team and, at least for the British fan, is just not very, well, British.
But what is very British is having a voice, having some passion, and believing that if you see something in a team that you support in your heart, give your hard-earned dollars to, talk about, defend, and cheer for; and that something is not very Arsenal at all, you let them know about it.
So Eboue got what he deserved, and so did the manager, and so did the club. A lot of people will call it embarrassing and unfair, but it was a long time in coming for the player, and now we fully expect it will never have to happen again.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
What do you feel will happen now?
Eboue stay or go? Wenger to stay or go?
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
I don't think anyone will leave the club over this. Arsene is defending his player because, I think, in his heart of hearts, he was wrong to sub in Eboue in to the left hand side, instead of moving Denilson over to that side instead.
But not all of that can account for Eboue's sheer lack of professionalism. And also, Wenger now knows, without a doubt, that he can't switch sides with Eboue like he can with Denilson and company.
So Eboue, fairly or unfairly, got really tested by his manager on the weekend. How Eboue responds to this 'setback' will tell Le Boss alot about his character.
Because its the Character (TM) that is the element that is lacking in so many of his current squad members. Character to persevere, to fight, to adapt, to win the game no matter the circumstance.
How Eboue responds and adapts to this new reality is up to him. He may be a shrinking violet or a bright sunflower. I can't predict, because he is a very unpredictable player.
But it should be enough to help Wenger decide on what he should do in the January window. He'll know more about what kind of infusion he needs to purchase. That would mean that Eboue will have an even tougher hill to climb, as Arsene switches from nice-guy manager to Monsieur Ruthless because no matter what he may have as long term strategy, he absolutely cannot jeopardize not playing in Champions league next year.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Do you feel Wenger has got more ruthless on his players lately?
Strips Gallas of the armband - though it had to be done
Drops Simpson for being late for the bus in the CC game
Says some of the young guys aren't up to it yet and need a lot more work
Saying as much as he hated it, fans are "legally" entitled to boo Eboue
Thoughts?
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
I think Mr Wenger does what he feels he needs to do. He is ruthless when a good player suddenly reaches a certain age and he feels he can get a better financial outcome for the club if he lets them go while they are still good, rather than draining the last out of them before they hang up their boots.
So he has proven that he can be ruthless when he feels he has to be.
But I am choosing my words deliberately. "When he FEELS he has to be." He is capable of many things that a manager needs to do, I just hope he does what he needs to do in January.
As much as he may have hated it, and most fans would agree, they would hate to have to be negative when they would rather be positive and cheer, he understands that based on what they witnessed, fans were entitled to react in horror to what they saw. It was unprecedented. Just as it was unprecedented for him to sub the sub with only minutes to spare.
Lets hope Mr Wenger continues to do what he needs to do in a tight and timely fashion.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Maybe he can get the players he needs in January - he has signed Walcott and Adebayor in that window.
Some clubs are under pressure because of financial difficulties - West Ham are in trouble, can you see Matthew Upson coming back?
Liverpool seem to be up in the air and it is rumoured the board won't give Rafa money - that and Keane is said to be going back to Spurs for half the price they paid. Can we snap up Alonso? Rafa still wants Barry and while he has pledged to stay at Villa until the summer that is still a sign he wants to leave and maybe Villa will cash in and get big bucks for him.
Wenger said today we are very lucky to still be in the race - he has to see the need to splash and buy some players. I think maybe Wenger is just a bit crap negotatiating the transfers so hopefully Gazidis can earn his money.
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Caleb Jones 7 months ago
I hope he gets more ruthless with them. I think that every year Arsenal fails to win something Wenger gets a bit more edgy in terms of the team. I think its odd that he didn't meet Eboue on the sideline just let him walk down the tunnel, to me that says alot of what he thought about Eboue's performance.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Maybe he sees "project youth" as a dead duck? His best option following Nasri's injury was Eboue...
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Caleb Jones 7 months ago
Oh he doesn't think it of a dead duck, the team just needs a bit of order. I think its easy to forget the age of these players. At 19 I certainly wasn't mature and when your oldest player in gallas acts like a stupid tit it always makes it harder to get a message to your team. Wenger went with a "seasoned" player on saturday despite having one of the most promising left wingers in the game on his bench. Carlos Vela.
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Michael Fournier 7 months ago
Many want to get Alonso but what we need at Arsenal is a strong English Player like Steven Gerard in fact he is the only Liverpool player except maybe Tores I would buy.
And I think a Gerard like player is what Arsenal really needs I guy who when things go bad can pull the rest of the team up with him. Thing is I do not know what team in their right mind would let any player like Steven Gerard or Frank Lampard or a Center Back like Terry go in January if at all.
But that is what is wrong at Arsenal no Veteran players that can hold a team together when things get tough. So I say Bo the management for letting things get to the point that not one key veteran player was retained at the club.
Give me the days when One nil to the gunners was something to cheer about instead of a nerves filled display that we felt luck to finish with out giving up the equalizer.
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
Oh, and Mathew Upson is 29, so I think Wenger might think that a tad too old for his squad, where Xabi is 2 years younger.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
dead duck is perhaps a wrong term but say it needs tweaking - bring in 2/3 seasoned professionals? Its apparent the young guys need guidance and the likes of Eboue and Gallas aren't providing it
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
Maire: I will say this.
The day Arsene Wenger buys a British defensive-minded midfielder is the day I will be convinced that I have the ability to not only predict the future, but of mind control over an Arsenal Manager.
Seeing as I know I can't do either, I'll just put it down to sheer coincidence.
Good piece on Arsenal News Review (which is a rarity, although Myles is talking about what he knows, which is football team administration, internal politics, and modern day management) about Gazidis. If any can help Arsene sign players, get more sponsorship money, and run the business, its Ivan. He had pretty much built MLS up in a very tough sports marketing and entertainment market; he should really relish where he can take the Arsenal brand forward starting in 2009.
I think Arsene thinks we are lucky to still be in the league given we only have 29 points compared to the other top 4. I don't think we'll win the league from our position, but I don't think anyone in our position would. I don't know who will, but ManU are my bet, again. That game in hand is pretty much 3 points right there for them.
I don't know who Arsene will get Gazidis to steal from another club in January, but I expect one signing at the least, maybe 2 considering how long Rosicky will be out and how long Walcott will be out. I don't think Ramsey or Whilshire will get much EPL game time; FA cup, perhaps...
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Don't read ANR as its pretty rubbish but i'll pop over to give that a look.
The only thing Gunners can hope for is that it'll go back to how it operated in the Wenger-Dein days. Wenger - "I want x" and off Dein trotted and did his upmost to get said player. Really it was so stupid Arsenal waited so long to replace Dein, Wenger should not be doing that job which is probably hindsight speaking.
Gazidis seems to mean business. He is looking for more sponsorship from Fly Emirates and Nike and Delaware wouldn't lower their food prices so they are gone. Now some players please Ivan :-)
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agooner from goonerTV 7 months ago
Myles does talk a bit of rubbish in today's piece, especially when he muses about Emirates buying Arsenal. If it was tongue in cheek then fine, but too often Myles talks out of his ass so I doubt it. What was good though was that he actually covered to topic, and it did have a couple of things in it.
I'm off to watch Spurs win so I can be 9/10 for the week and crack the top 100 on Premier League Picks!
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Jessica Potter 7 months ago
fans have a right to express themselves, so only they can really say whether they were right or wrong, but they must know it only hurts the team, doesn't help them at all
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obert chikwature 7 months ago
after all is said and done..............ARSENAL must win trophies period! its been 4 years but it feels like an eternity. hope cesc can lead use to much needed glory!
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
I rather to say 3 seasons - doesn't seem as bad LOL
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obert chikwature 7 months ago
3 seasons sounds better. hope we dont go into a liverpool type of drought! 18 years without a league title, that hurts!
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
That's the spirit :-)
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Keith Griffin 6 months ago
How anyone can say its right is beyond me....
I just wonder if Gallas had say, had an awful game against Chelsea would he too have been booed? Say if they haad lost due to a Gallas error?
Some of the Arsenal fans frustration is starting to spill over, probably those who wanted Wenger out. They run the risk of spoiling the reputation of the REAL fans.
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Maire Ofeire 6 months ago
Gallas got the silent treatment after his outburst but I actually feel he has been playing better for us now than he has in a long time. I think a lot of fans agreed with what he said but the way he went about it was all wrong.
It is fan frustration really Keith not a hatred towards Eboue. We don't particularly like him but as long as he wears the shirt he is a Gunner whether we like it or not and we support him.
As for those who want Wenger out - they are an odd bunch. There are some Arsenal fans who never wanted Wenger in the first place and still don't like him despite all he has done for the club, some who came along 2-3 years into Wenger's reign and don't know what it is to go through a rough patch and a minority who have lost patience with him.
Funnily enough most of these think it is time for Wenger to "move upstairs at the Emirates". You see they don't want him as manager but don't want him to go either. Most Gunners just want Wenger to sort out the mess because we believe he can.
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STANLEY AMBI 6 months ago
wait a minute! did any of you guys ever thought of wenger as the problem not eboue?
for one,eboue is not a left sided player,spent six weeks sidelined and thrown into such a game and y'all expectin him to perform great magic? thats a laff cos he is best remembered for his xploits as a right sided defender. what in heaven sake was wenger doing bringin him on and leaving vela and wilshere on the bench? the whole time eboue was on the pitch, he was strugglin to get the ball goin with his left foot. the guy shouldnt be carved up bcos of his manager's poor judgement.objective reasoning should take precedence over outright emotional out burst. what in heaven's name is diaby,bendtna and until recently senderos doing in arsenal? the manager never stopped deluding himself that this set of players are quality.it goes to confirm our position on the table now.
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Maire Ofeire 6 months ago
Not a Wenger fan then.....
I agree though that Wenger plays players out of position far too often. Denilson is a case in point he's been wasted on the wing
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