The fearless Ivorian called Emmanuel Eboué

Emmanuel Eboué the Cote d’Ivoire and Arsenal defender was virtually unknown early this year but as suddenly emerged as one of the key players on Arsenal’s road to the Champions’ League semi-finals.

He went away with the Cote d’Ivoire team to the African Cup of Nations where he helped his country to the finals of the competition and he more or less came back to Arsenal a superconfident man.

An injury to ever present Lauren in the Arsenal team gave the boy of Cote d’Ivoire his chance to shine in the Arsenal young team.

Whatever his story the fearless young man has come a long way from the dusty streets of Yopougon in Cote d’Ivoire.

You can just picture him in the dressing room at the Bernabeu, where his manager Arsene Wenger is issuing his final instructions to his players before they go out to face the might Real Madrid in from of 80,000 fans.

The Arsenal manager turns to Emmanuel Eboué. And says to him, “Don’t be afraid.”

He needn’t have worried as fear does not feature for the 22-year-old vocabulary. Emmanuel went on to produce the kind of signature performance that announces a vibrant talent at the highest level.

The young man was just as happy playing alongside the likes of Zidane and Ronaldo.

For him to have the opportunity to play in that capacity was just overwhelming.

Eboué a devout Christian feels blessed and admits that he is simply “living the dream”.

Having played against Real Madrid and Juventus, he took the opportunity to exchange shirts with his idols Zidane and Thurham who play for Real Madrid and Juventus.

Summing up, the fearless boy from Cote d’Ivoire has come a long way.

He would play in the Arsenal team that face Villareal tonite holding on to a slender 1-0 lead. And with the Champions League final only 90 minutes away, the long journey from the streets of Yopougon could end up with an appearance in the Champions League final in the Stade de France next month.