Emmanuel Eboue would like to come back to Arsenal one day

The memories and fun moments of Emmanuel Eboue’s time at Arsenal are probably greater, and more enjoyable, than sitting down and dissecting his overall performances for the club. He was nothing short of a joyful human being who brought smiles to most faces for the kind of good person he was and still is. However, the same cannot be said for the majority of his shifts; it was only two years into his time at Arsenal that Arsene Wenger purchased Bacary Sagna and thus began the protracted, inevitable path towards his 2011 departure to Galatasaray.

Eboue’s move to Turkey probably ended prematurely by most standards; now comes news from the man himself that he wants a final, fresh start in his footballing career and, wouldn’t you know it, would desire a move back to his London roots:

"I came back for training and was told I would not be playing," he told The Sun. "The [Galatasaray] president told the manager at the time not to pick me. The way I was treated was very unfair."

...

He said: "We are looking for options but I’d love to come back to Arsenal."

Eboue will turn 33 years old this upcoming summer. While he’d be a great "break glass in case of emergency" right back, in theory Arsenal will have both Hector Bellerin and Carl Jenkinson at that position to start next season. And, no offense to Galatasaray or the Turkish Super League, if you get dropped from their first team and are forced to play for the U21 side for an entire season and then have your contract not get renewed, well, you’re probably not cut to become a reserve right back for a contending English Premier League club.

The memory of Eboue is conflicting and, yet, wonderful. He was part of the Banter Era sides that regularly punched above their weight while consistently vaulting the club into the top four every season, and is damn-near the perfect example of a player during that time – exciting, explosive, frustrating, limited. It’s a shame to see his career end like this but, while we have him in our thoughts and sights today thanks to his open desire to return into the warm embrace of Arsene Wenger’s arms, it gives us perhaps a final opportunity to remind you that he might be one of the most gif-able players of our time: