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08th Jul 2018

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue arrested on suspicion of arson

The 35-year-old was detained outside a house in Enfield

Kyle Picknell

Eboue’s playing career ended in 2016 after leaving Sunderland without making an appearance

Emmanuel Eboue has been arrested on suspicion of arson and malicious communications and is currently being held in a north-London police station, according to the Mirror.

The former Arsenal right back was detained outside a house in Enfield and friends of the player are reportedly concerned for his emotional wellbeing and mental state.

In 2017 Eboue opened up about his ongoing battle with depression and revealed that failed investments and a divorce settlement had left him poor and homeless.

Met Police released a statement which read: “Police investigating an alleged arson at a residential address in Enfield on Saturday, 30 June, arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of arson and malicious communications outside the address at around 17:00hrs on Saturday, 7 July.

“He was taken to a north London police station where he currently remains.”

The Ivorian made 214 appearances for Arsenal and represented his country on 79 occasions. He spent seven seasons with the Gunners before joining Turkish club Galatasaray in 2011. He signed a short-term contract with Sunderland in March 2016 but was then banned from all football-related activity for a year following a payment dispute with a former agent.

He left the club without making a single appearance and has since been unattached. In October last year, Eboue was expected to sign for Türk Ocağı Limasol in Northern Cyprus before the move was cancelled following abnormal blood values being discovered during his medical.

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