Arsenal FC: Should Emmanuel Eboue Start Against Barcelona?

Emmanuel Eboue? Really?

Arsenal's second-choice right back, whose game usually consists of running into the penalty area like a headless chicken and blasting a shot into the side netting?

The player who commits countless, petty fouls?

Should Arsenal start him against the slickest operation football has ever seen?

Yes.

As you all know, Arsenal are defending a precarious 2-1 lead going into this match—and will have to score to stand any chance of progressing.

There is no point further publicising Arsenal's tenuous situation as everyone under the sun already has.

So how does Eboue help Arsenal in any way?

As you know, Eboue can play as a right-sided midfielder as well as at right back.

Unlike Arsenal's other options in this area (Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky), Eboue is happy to stay back around the half-way line in front of Bacary Sagna, close down and hassle opponents, then distribute the ball to a more gifted player such as Fabregas, Wilshere or Nasri.

Unlike in seasons gone by, Barcelona's fearsome "MVP" change positions far more than they did when Eto'o or Ibrahimovic was at the head of the tripod—with any one of Messi, Villa or Pedro occupying the right, left and central positions at any point during the match.

Therefore, if extra cover can be added in a wide position, then surely it must be used. Arshavin has neither the defensive instinct, fitness nor ability to perform this for what will feel like 90 days—forget 90 minutes. Besides, even if he did, it would surely limit his potential contribution to the attack.

As for Tomas Rosicky, he may be (slightly) more disciplined, but going forward he adds nothing but what is already provided at a superior level by Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere and possibly van Persie.

Eboue, on the other hand, for all of his flaws, will run tirelessly and stretch the Catalan defence by running at them with the ball at his feet, rather than passing and moving like most of the Arsenal players do. Additionally, based on Rosicky's performances this season, I do not believe he has earned the right to participate in a match of such magnitude.

Secondly, in Arshavin's most game-changing performances this year (namely against Everton and Barcelona) he has come off the bench to score and has generally looked far more lively and energetic—perhaps because his fitness is simply not as good as other players', or because he feels he has to prove himself after being left on the bench.

Whatever the reason, I would prefer to see him come on and change the game if they are chasing it (which I think they will be), rather than slowly fade out of the contest at around 60 minutes—especially since Barcelona have proven their vulnerability late in the game against Arsenal in two matches at the Emirates. Furthermore, they seem to find it difficult to adapt to strategic substitutions, such as when Arsenal brought on Theo Walcott in 2010 or Arshavin, just recently, in 2011. Moreover, if things aren't going to plan when Arshavin starts, who could they bring on?

Those of you who disagree with me might say that Eboue on the right would create an imbalance if a more orthodox attacking player is used on the left. However, Samir Nasri does tend to close down opponents and track back when he needs to—and he has the pace to counter attack effectively, so playing Kieran Gibbs in front of Gael Clichy is not necessary.

Arsenal will almost certainly start with a flexible 4-5-1, rather than a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, which they have tended to use this season. The difference is that the wide players will play deeper and as midfielders, rather than wingers, in order to congest the Camp Nou's expansive real-estate. Cesc Fabregas is then likely to play deeper alongside Diaby and Wilshere, as opposed to just behind the main striker.

This formation is not suited to Arshavin—whose game is more dependent on quick movements in and around the box, with sudden bursts of pace, rather than gut-busting 30-yard runs which Walcott, Eboue and, to an extent, Nasri are more accustomed to. With Maxwell at left back and Busquets in defence, taking the ball to the by-line and firing in a cross from the right could be Arsenal's best chance of scoring.

Whatever decision Wenger makes, it will only make this Everest slightly more climbable—and for Arsene Wenger to reach the summit and plant a canon-embroidered flag, it will take the performance of a lifetime from every player in the cauldron of doom that is the Nou Camp.

We will need God on our side, but if he has more important things to do, Eboue may be the next best thing.