Arsenal set to help poverty-stricken Emmanuel Eboue

Probably the biggest story in football over Christmas wasn’t about the Premier League games going on but the financially stricken Emmanuel Eboue, whose story touched many fans. Now Arsenal look set to offer their former full-back further help.

In a very honest interview with the Mirror on Christmas Eve the Ivorian told how he had lost all of his assets to his wife in their recent divorce, which had also meant he hadn’t seen his children since June.

The situation had left him often hiding from bailiffs and sleeping on friends couches, hiding his identity watching Arsenal in pubs, so embarrassed at his situation that he didn’t want fans to recognise him.

Some redemption came on Boxing Day with news that his former club Galatasaray had offered him a job at the club, as a coach to the under 14s, and accomodation at the club.

Fans of his other former club Arsenal were asking on social media if the Gunners would also help and according to a source at the Daily Mail the club are currently looking into how exactly how they can help. The source said:

“We are all so sorry to hear the reports about Manu’s recent difficulties and will explore whether we can help in any way.”

The 34 year old played at right back for Arsenal between 2004 and 2011, amassing 214 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side across all competitions, scoring 10 goals in the process and played in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona.

He moved to Turkey in 2011 for €3.5 million and won the Super Lig twice with the Istanbul side.

Eboue talked about suffering from depression and battling suicidal thoughts saying, “I pray every day. I want God to help me. To help me to take it out of my head. I don’t want to think about suicidal thoughts. I want God to bring my morale up.”

The football world will be willing Eboue to get back on his feet.