Emmanuel Eboue reveals his son chose Arsenal over Chelsea

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Emmanuel Eboue's son rejected Chelsea in order to sign with Arsenal's academy
Mathis is now enrolled into Arsenal's Hale End youth set-up and is impressing
Early comparisons have apparently been made to club legend Gilberto Silva
Eboue represented Arsenal from 2004 to 2011 and won the FA Cup in 2005

Published: 11:38 EDT, 20 December 2017 | Updated: 05:51 EDT, 21 December 2017

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Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has revealed his son, Mathis, rejected Chelsea in order to sign with the Gunners' academy.

Mathis is enrolled into Arsenal's Hale End youth set-up and Eboue claims early comparisons have been drawn between his son and club legend Gilberto Silva.

Eboue spent seven years at Arsenal from 2004 to 2011 and is delighted his son is following in his footsteps.

Emmanuel Eboue has revealed his son chose to join Arsenal's academy over Chelsea's

'Mathis plays for Arsenal, I think he signed last year. I'm happy, happy to see him play and enjoy football,' Eboue told Goal.

'And also because he likes Arsenal. Because he had two choices, Chelsea and Arsenal.

'I didn't tell him anything, I said: "Mathis, it's up to you. It doesn't matter where, I want you to be happy". And he said to me: "Daddy I want to play for Arsenal. I like Arsenal and you used to play here too, the people they love you, so I want to play here".

'I said, "okay no problem". So he's there now, he is happy. And I wish him the best. Firstly it's about education and school, then, after, football. But he's happy, really happy.

'I haven't spoken to him [Arsene Wenger] about my son, but he knows. He knows about Mathis. I heard that he said to the academy manager, talking about Mathis, that the way he plays is like Gilberto Silva. So I'm happy, very happy.'

Eboue's son has reportedly drawn early comparisons to club legend Gilberto Silva

Ashley Young is among the footballing stars to have their sons at the Arsenal academy

Eboue revealed that when Mathis signed, one of the first duties was to have a meal with Wenger.

'The first thing after he signed for Arsenal, all the younger players went to eat in front of Wenger. And he was so happy when he came back home, to have seen him. So as I've said, I wish him the best,' Eboue added.

'This boy, he said: '"Daddy, you will see, I'll be better than you". And I told him that I wish that. I hope that he will be better than me. But I'm very happy when I watch him play. He's a fighter and he is very fast also. So I'm happy to see him play and I think he is also very happy to be playing [too].'

Eboue is not the only footballer who is also a proud father of an Arsenal academy prospect, with Manchester United's Ashley Young, former Gunner Robert Pires and current midfield maestro Santi Cazorla all having sons at the club.