ARSENAL'S Emmanuel Eboue finally considers himself to be a midfielder after his boss Arsene Wenger made him believe in himself, writes Trevor Vidler.

Wenger told his 25-year-old Ivory Coast star: "I believe in you and I think you're going to be a top midfielder if you believe in yourself."

This was after the player himself told his manager that he preferred to play at right-back. However, after his heart-to-heart with Wenger he is more than comfortable to play in a midfield role. He also considers the Champions League game at home to Milan as a major confidence booster.

"Against Milan I was all over the pitch, attacking and defending, and it was good for me," Eboue told the club's official magazine.

"It gave me a lot of confidence, I hadn't played well in the previous few games, but the manager gave me belief and I was ready for that game."

Wenger believes that the pace and power of Eboue, a £1.5m signing from Belgian side KSK Beveren in January 2005, would be great asset to have on the right hand side of midfield.