Emmanuel Eboue urges Mikel Arteta to ‘give a chance’ to forgotten Arsenal man and says squad are ‘lost’ without centre-back William Saliba
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In an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue discusses Nicolas Pepe, the Champions League and William Saliba.
Mikel Arteta should give Nicolas Pepe a chance next season
It’s going to be very hard for Nicolas Pepe to get back into this Arsenal team. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have had unbelievable seasons, and you know the manager is going to stick with those two players out wide, so Pepe has to work hard when he comes back. He needs to work harder than Martinelli and Saka.
I don’t see Mikel Arteta changing those two wingers, so Pepe needs to force himself into Arteta’s thoughts and plans. I’d be really happy to see him at Arsenal next season, though. And I ask that Arteta gives him a chance. When a player like Pepe arrives, for so much money, he needs to play. He needs to prove himself. The club spent a lot of money on him and he was supposed to be a regular player for this team. He had such a good season at Lille, which encouraged Arsenal to spend so much money on him. Things didn’t work out for him, especially under Arteta.
The manager wants his players to work hard, but Pepe is coming back into a different team, so I think he has to be given a chance, an opportunity to show what he can do. When he’s playing well, he’s so good. But he left the club when he was in a really low place. I want him to work hard and I want Arteta to give him a chance.
‘Hungry’ Gunners will be desperate to win Champions League
I’m expecting a very good Champions League run from Arsenal next season. I’m expecting a hungry squad, who are desperate to win the competition, especially after being out of it for so long now. Based on what I’ve seen this season, I think they’re going to be very, very good in Europe.
These guys know how to play together now, they’re hungry after so many years away from the Champions League. They’ll want to show people that they’re ready to play at the highest level in Europe. They must bring in players with Champions League experience this summer, though. That is absolutely key. They need experienced heads, because European football is very different to what they’re used to in the Premier League. If they do that, they’ll go very far.
I always believe in Arsenal, because I know this team are capable of going far. If they can play in Europe the same way they’ve played in the Premier League this season, and they bring in some experienced players, I really think Arsenal can do well.
Arsenal are lost without William Saliba
This season, for Arsenal, was probably their best in 20 years – they were the best team in the league for so long, but regardless of how things worked out, this is Arsenal’s best team since they last won the title. Arsenal is in my blood; it’s as simple as that. Every week, I sit in front of my TV and I’m watching them.
Their form took a turn when they drew those three games in a row, and then they completely lost all confidence after losing to Man City – that was the turning point. Then, losing 3-0 at home to Brighton ended their title hopes.
When the league is in your hands, and you miss out at the very end of the season, it’s very difficult to deal with. It’s so hard to come back from that, because you’ve lost everything, and it’s all you can think about. You forget about how well you did for the majority of the season, and you just focus on the last few games. It’s really hard to think about.
🗞️ Reflecting on the season
🗞️ Looking ahead to the new campaign
🗞️ Our result against Nottingham ForestThe boss' post-match presser in full 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 21, 2023
The main problem with this team was what happened when one of the key members of the side was absent. There was a real difference to the starting line-up. For the first few months, everything was good, everyone was fit and playing well, but things got worse as the season went on, and the obvious big miss was – of course – William Saliba. They lost him and things just didn’t look the same. Arsenal were almost lost on the pitch without him. That lack of strength is a key reason they lost the title race.
I know that Mikel Arteta will find the right moment to speak with all of these players. Let’s not forget, these guys are so young and playing in such a tough league, so confidence is going to be very low. So, I think those guys will see the best of Arteta this summer, in how he helps them get over the pain from this season.
I think there are many areas where Arsenal can strengthen. Watching them this season and looking ahead to the summer, they need full-backs on either side, an attacking midfielder,and another number nine. You worry about what Arsenal possess up front if Gabriel Jesus gets injured, so I think they need to bring in another number nine to cover for him, someone who you can trust to get goals when he’s called upon.
So often this season, we saw the same players playing every week. It’s always the same guys, and so when one gets injured, they’re in trouble. So this summer, they need to bring in some experienced players, especially with them being back in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s best summer signing may have already happened
I don’t see Mikel Arteta doing anything different this weekend. I think he’ll stick to the 11 players he knows best. He has to beat Wolves. It’s a home game, the last day of the season, he has to put out his strongest side and they have to win the game, end the season on a high and head into the summer on a positive.
I believe in this team, I really do. They have to strengthen,and bring in some more experienced heads, but I think they’re capable of doing much, much better than they did this year.
You see rumours around Declan Rice joining… that’s a player who would really help Arsenal push on. I’m so confident in that. I think they deserved to win the league this season, but the team has learned some big, big lessons in the last few weeks – you have to keep going until the very end. I think they’re going to bring in some big names and come back even stronger. They’ll play attractive football as always, and I think they’ll give the fans at least one trophy to celebrate next season. I believe in this club and I wish them the very best for next season.
Maybe their best signing might be Bukayo Saka, who signed a new contract with the club this week. He is an unbelievable player, and keeping hold of him is huge for the future of the team. But these contracts – these days – don’t mean anything. You can sign them, but if a club comes along and puts an even bigger number in front of him, then you never know, he might end up leaving. So it’s vital they’re challenging for trophies next season, because that’s how they have the best chance of keeping hold of Saka. He was their best player this season. He’s played in more or less every single game for two years. He has so much experience and he’s only going to get better. He always delivers for the team and he’s got so much more to give. I hope that Arsenal can keep him for many years, because he’s so important for their chances of success.
