Were Arsenal Fans Right or Wrong To Boo Emmanuel Eboue?

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!