EBOUE RELIVES BOOING NIGHTMARE

EMMANUEL EBOUE has revealed how the torment he suffered at the hands of Arsenal fans made him scared to even turn up for training.

This time last season the Gunners were imploding after a series of defeats on the pitch and some explosive events off it.

Arsene Wenger was trying to solve seismic problems in the dressing room which centred around William Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy, and Emmanuel Adebayor as his side's title challenge fizzled out.

Perhaps the most enduring image of the campaign was last December when Eboue came on as a substitute against Wigan but played so poorly that Wenger substituted him.

The boos as the defender left the pitch reduced him to tears and left many wondering whether he would play for the club again. But in the dressing room after the game he was embraced by every one of his team-mates. They felt his pain and pledged their support for him in restoring his confidence.

HURT: Eboue is replaced against Wigan

Understandably Eboue temporarily lost his appetite for the game despite thousands of Gunners fans writing to the club and apologising.

Today, after steadily regaining his foothold in the side during Arsenal's impressive start to this season, the Ivorian knows better than most the difference a year can make.

He said: "I had problems last season and Arsene Wenger was disappointed with my performances. I felt very down after the game against Wigan. I was feeling sick and I did not even want to come back to training. I would never wish what I went through on anybody.

"A team has to go on to the pitch to win and nobody deserves to be booed.

"It was the lowest point of my career but now I feel much better. The smile is back on my face this season and things are going well for me.

"I owe a lot to my friends at the club - they helped me a great deal. Other players rang me and talked about what I was going through and it rebuilt my confidence.

"They saw that I was suffering and they were there when I needed them. If I was to see one of my team-mates going through something like this I could now use my experience to help them."

The Gunners dropped two points at AZ Alkmaar in the Champions League in midweek when a late equaliser saw them draw a game they were controlling.

Any similar lapses in defence could see them punished today by a West Ham side without a victory since the opening day of the season.

But Eboue believes the presence of Alex Song has seen them concede fewer soft goals this term. He can also see Song mastering the Claude Makelele role in front of the back four that the Frenchman perfected for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.

Eboue added: "He can be like Makelele now that he has his chance to play.

"He has shown the supporters what he can do and they have started to believe in him."

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