While it ended in heartbreak, Emmanuel Eboue still has one or two fond memories of Arsenal’s last visit to the biggest stage in European football.
A thrilling campaign has seen the Gunners claw their way to their first Champions League final in 20 years, dreaming of an unprecedented double for the club having already ended their long wait for a Premier League title.
Barcelona were the opposition in 2006 with the Gunners’ run to the final in Paris inspired by Thierry Henry, still operating at the peak of his powers, and a 19-year-old Cesc Fabregas.
With Invincible winner Lauren injured and coming to the end of his time in north London, Emmanuel Eboue started at right-back that night, up against the best player on the planet in Ronaldinho who had made the competition is playground.
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Eboue kept the Brazilian superstar very quiet that night with the introduction of Henrik Larsson off the bench tipping the game in Barcelona’s favour as Arsene Wenger’s side were denied.
Arsenal come up against a similarly fearsome attack in Budapest on Saturday with Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia leaving teams in a daze over the past two seasons.
Arsenal have had a perfect week in the build-up with Mikel Arteta able to rest his stars on the final day of the league season against Crystal Palace with the title wrapped up five days earlier.
But there is a dilemma at right-back. Jurrien Timber has not played since the win over Everton in March. A groin problem that was initially thought to be a minor issue has derailed the Dutchman’s season and while there is still hope he can be involved on Saturday, coming in after more than two months on the sidelined poses its own problems.
‘Timber will want to play,’ Eboue told Metro. ‘As a player, your dream is to play the Champions League final. I think for him, he will want 100 per cent want to start.
‘But he has not played for a long time. He has to wait a little bit then we can see. The PSG team, they are so strong and so fast so I think it is better for Arteta to leave him on the bench.’
Cristhian Mosquera could be handed the most unenviable task in football in trying to shackle Kvaratskhelia if he is given the nod. While Declan Rice and even Martin Zubimendi have been tested in the right-back position, the former Villarreal star has impressed when asked to move out from his familiar role at centre-half.
‘For me, Mosquera is the best option,’ Eboue said, speaking via BetMGM. ‘I have seen his games and he has done very well, he is very strong and he is very hard to get past. I think it is a better [option] for Arteta to let him start.
‘He doesn’t have the technical ability of Timber but he is very strong defensively. I think they need him.’
Arteta has another big decision in midfield. After starting all 34 Premier League games, a drained Martin Zubimendi was dropped for the home game against Fulham at the start of the month with Myles Lewis-Skelly brought in from the cold having been on the periphery of the team all season, starring in midfield alongside Rice.
The England international has provided a telling reminder of his immense quality. But Eboue believes the battle with PSG’s outstanding midfield of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz calls for experience in the form of Rice, Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard, suggesting Lewis-Skelly should join Timber on the bench.
‘It is better to pick the midfield that has played together so much play on Saturday. They have done so well together and were so strong for such a long time,’ Eboue said.
‘For me, Lewis-Skelly is too young [to start this game]. I know he is a very good player but for the Champions League final you need the players who have experience. With the PSG midfielders, they are so intelligent and quick. For Lewis-Skelly I think it is better for him to start on the bench and then we will see.’
Eboue, who made 214 appearances for the Gunners between 2004 and 2011, helped thwart Barcelona’s biggest weapon 20 years ago with Ronaldinho having a rare off night in the Stade de France.
‘We knew in that final they were the best team. But so were we,’ Eboue recalled. ‘Every team was scared to play against Arsenal in Europe, Thierry Henry and Fabregas, everyone was scared of them.
‘When I played against Ronaldinho, I told him, “do you know where I come from? I’m from Africa. I’m not scared of you.”
‘Then he spoke to Samuel Eto’o about me. Later when I spoke to Samuel, he said, “Eboue, I think Ronaldinho is scared of you. And that’s why he didn’t try come down your side”.
‘I knew I had to do my best and give everything for the club. People in my country and the Arsenal fans were so happy to see me play like that against Ronaldinho.’