In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, the former Arsenal cult hero Emmanuel Eboue talked about coping with life whilst banned from football and his love of dressing up as a tiger.

It happened when he went round to Arsenal teammate Gilberto Silva’s for a birthday party.

Here’s what happened:

“You know me, I’m like that. I like people. I don’t like to see someone disappointed, someone down. I always like to help create a good atmosphere, wherever I am. It doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I just like a good atmosphere. It was a big family party. It was Gilberto’s daughter’s birthday. I just went to a fancy dress shop and bought it.

I turned up at the door and Gilberto said, ‘Who is it?’ I said, ‘Open the door!’ with a sort of tiger growl! ‘Who is it?’ Open the door!’ I got in and said, ‘Hey, Gilberto, it’s me Eboue, but don’t tell anyone ’. So I went inside, dancing, messing around, making people happy and no one had a clue it was me. It was hot in that suit so I lasted about an hour before taking it off!”

A tiger costume is good but does it beat Eboue in 70s afro and short shorts.  Arshavin doesn’t think so.  

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