Emmanuel
Eboue has apologised for his sending off at Tottenham on
Sunday.
The Arsenal midfielder received a yellow card in the 17th minute
for dissent and another nine minutes before the break for flicking
out at Luka Modric.
It left the visitors with a mammoth task but Arsène Wenger’s
side rolled up their sleeves and dug out a deserved draw on the
ground of their fiercest rivals. Alex Song
and Nicklas
Bendtner even had chances to give them all three points.
However, the game had turned on that red card and afterwards,
Eboue was understandably contrite.
“I am sorry,” he told Arsenal.com. “This game was very, very
important for us. We must always win when we play against Tottenham
and give our best for the fans.
“I am so disappointed to get the red card but I say thank you to
my friends [team-mates] who gave everything. We drew and we are
happy. It is a good point for us after playing so long with 11 v
10.”
Eboue admitted his error for the second caution but felt the
first was harsh – along with the decision to chalk off his ‘goal’
in the 13th minute for a push on Jonathan Woodgate.
“The referee sent me off,” said the Ivorian. “For the first
yellow card I did not say anything bad.
“I was in front of the ball and I was talking with Almunia
[following a foul]. After that I said [to the referee] you have to
whistle before and he said OK. I came back to take my place and
then he called me and gave me a yellow card. I don’t really
understand why.
“For the second one, I touched him. I put my leg up because
[Modric] had touched me before in front of the referee and he did
not say anything. He kicked me when I tried to go forward and I put
my leg up. The second card is normal, I accept it.
“But for me the referee was not good today. It was a goal [in
the first half]. I don’t know why he did not give it. The referee
said I touched Woodgate but I did not.
“I know have to control myself [on the pitch] but I did not want
to let Tottenham win.
"I just wanted to give my best.”
