Source: Telegraph
AZ Alkmaar v Arsenal: Emmanuel Eboue wants to repay fans' renewed faith
The low point came against Wigan last December when he was booed by his own fans and was ultimately substituted, despite having come on a substitute himself during the match.
Eboue, though, has been pushing Bacary Sagna for the right full-back position this season and, as expected tonight, can also fill a midfield void with injuries to Walcott, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner.
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"For me I just want to say ‘thank you’ to my boss and the fans because they help me a lot," said Eboue. "I was very disappointed with my performance last season, but now I feel I am doing very well. I want to give my best when I play for myself and the fans."
Arsenal are the leading scorers in the English top flight, with 27 goals from the first eight matches. Wenger, though, feels it is also his team's hard work when not in possession which has helped their goalscoring.
"If we score goals, it is because we have the ball. To have the ball, you need to defend," he said. "That is why I believe we have a good team ethic, a good working attitude together. We all play on the same wavelength, which is why everybody scores."
With two wins already in Group H, the first coming after trailing 2-0 at Standard Liege inside the opening five minutes, Arsenal - who have chalked up seven successive victories - could all but secure a place in the knockout stages tonight.
AZ, now coached by Ronald Koeman, may have struggled for the consistency which secured last season's Eredivisie title, but they will defend a record of just one home defeat from 34 European ties. Wenger, however, believes this young side can come of age in 2010.
"I believe this team has a big future," he said. "We have improved the belief and results. However, we know we have not won anything yet, it is all in front of us and that is what we want to show this season."
