Arsenal don reach Champions League final again for first time since 2006, and one of di players wey dey dat match, Emmanuel Eboue, don yarn about wetin happen dat night for Paris.
Di former right-back tok say di red card wey referee give Jens Lehmann early for di match spoil everything for Arsenal. According to Eboue, if Lehmann no get card, Arsenal for don win di trophy.
For di 2006 final, Arsenal face Barcelona for Stade de France. Just 18 minutes don play, Lehmann come foul Samuel Eto’o outside di box and referee show am red card. Even though Ludovic Giuly score after di foul, di goal no count because di red card happen first.
Eboue tell Daily Star Sport say di team believe say if dem play 11 versus 11, dem for win because dem be di best. ‘We were 100% sure we would win that game because we were the best,’ Eboue tok. ‘If Lehmann wasn’t sent off, we win that game.’
Despite di red card, Sol Campbell still score for Arsenal for di 37th minute from Thierry Henry free-kick. But Barcelona come back with two goals from Eto’o and Juliano Belletti late for di match, and Arsenal lose 2-1.
Eboue yarn say di team na young boys, only Sol Campbell get age small. Di other players no get experience, but dem still believe say dem fit beat Barcelona. ‘We were thinking that the time it was 11 against 11 we win that game because they were scared about us,’ he tok.
Di Ivorian defender also remember how he face Ronaldinho for dat match. He say di Brazilian star na di best player he ever play with or against. Eboue tell Ronaldinho before di match say dat final na for Arsenal, and say di Brazilian no go pass am. ‘He was thinking that I was joking,’ Eboue laugh. After di match, Ronaldinho come greet am and dem swap shirt.
Eboue tok say di defeat hard well-well because di players want win di trophy for di club and for Arsene Wenger. ‘We tried our best to win the cup for him and then we couldn’t do it. It was hard at the end because we were so tired. Again 11 [down to 10] and then against, the big players, so it was very hard for us,’ he tok.
Now, 20 years later, Arsenal get chance to win Champions League again. Mikel Arteta side go face Paris Saint-Germain for di final. Di Gunners hope say dis time, dem go carry di trophy.
