The enigma of Emmanuel Eboue is one that continues to baffle supporters of different clubs up and down the country. Sometimes amazing, sometimes awful, always crazy, usually happy to take a tumble and now a cult hero. As he nears 200 Arsenal appearances, it’s time for an Emmanuel Eboue appraisal.

Signed from then feeder club Beveren in January 2005, Eboue made his Arsenal debut in an FA Cup tie at Highbury against Stoke City. Signed as a right back, his early first team chances were limited due to Lauren still being Mr Consistent.

Like every good youngster to come through the club, Eboue’s first real moment worthy of note came in the Carling Cup. On a freezing evening up in the North East, the Ivorian scored his first goal for the club with a 25 yard screamer as Arsenal won 3-0 against Sunderland. For those who can’t remember the goal, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking I’m joking, but Emmanuel Eboue really did put the ball in the top corner of the net from long range. Had Cesc Fabregas or Thierry Henry scored that goal it would have been remembered as one of the greats.

After breaking his goal scoring duck, something another great Arsenal right back Oleg Luzhny never managed, Eboue went on to be an integral part of a record breaking Champions League defence later in 2005/06. He played in every game Arsenal had in the knockout rounds, including the final. so was part of successful shuts outs against Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal.

As much as he is vilified by some Arsenal fans for his often needless diving, it is easy to forget that we might not have scored in the Champions League final had he not conveniently fallen without a touch from Carlos Puyol after a rampaging run down the right. Sol Campbell headed the subsequent free-kick into the net and had it not been for an offside goal and a shot through Almunia’s legs then we could have been European Champions, with a sizeable part of that being down to Eboue. In some ways it was impressive to see him out cheat perennial cheaters in Barcelona.

As we moved home to the new stadium, Emmanuel Eboue was firmly positioned as the first choice right back with injuries denying Lauren a chance to displace him. Justin Hoyte was his only real rival for the position but he couldn’t make it past the Ivorian as Eboue had a solid season. Particular highlights included a few stunning crosses: for Van Persie’s volley at Charlton and Henry headers against Porto and Manchester United.

A problem came at the start of 2007/08 for Manu. A new right back was signed and suddenly he wasn’t a guaranteed starter. Bacary Sagna came in and had a superb first season leaving Eboue cast adrift a bit to fight for his place on the right along with Alex Hleb and Theo Walcott. It was here that fans started to get frustrated with Eboue. He was no longer the solid right back who could support attacks, he was expected to lead them from the wing. As others in the team stepped up performances and Arsenal came close to winning the league, Eboue was dropping down the pecking order.

He started 2008/09 as a central midfielder due to injuries and departures and couldn’t be faulted for effort, however as the season went on, he struggled to find the form he’d shown in his early seasons at the club. His dismal performance on the left hand side of midfield against Wigan was the final straw for some with boos ringing round the E******s towards him.

For the rest of the season, Arsene Wenger reverted Eboue back to his more customary right side and slowly he won back the fans. If not always with skill, then with commitment and hard work.

Last season there was more rotation at right back and Eboue was able to play in the position where he had initially excelled. The sales of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure meant Eboue had lost some of his best friends in the squad, but therefore he focussed more on his football and improved on the pitch as a result. Whereas initially the song ‘You’ve Only Come to see Eboue’ was sung with humour towards the opposition fans, it was now being sung with more feeling towards the man himself.

This season, now firmly a right back again, he sees plenty of action with Wenger regularly rotating him with Bacary Sagna. After a journey that has seen him play in most positions except in goal, Eboue is back putting in the consistent full back performances similar to those that endeared to the fans back in 2006. He may still take the occasional dive but it is all part of the character that is Emmanuel Eboue. Now one of the longest serving members of the squad, his commitment to the club is undoubted and should be heavily praised.

We’re only four years away from the Emmanuel Eboue testimonial, and then we really would only go to see Eboue.