Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has defended under-fire Emmanuel Eboue after the player's recent red card at Tottenham.
Eboue had a 'goal' disallowed in the game before his day got worse as he was first booked for dissent and then sent off after kicking out at Luka Modric.
The red card has not helped his cause among Gunners' fans where he has already come in for criticism among some this season.
But Wenger is sticking by his man - including him in the squad for the game against Sunderland on Saturday - and believes he will have learnt from his dismissal.
The Arsenal boss said on the club's official website: "I have spoken to Eboue. He was sorry and he feels he was unfortunate with the first yellow card.
"On the first yellow card, he was not aggressive, he was clumsy. On the second yellow, he was guilty. He knows he has been treated like somebody who is guilty and he's apologised for that.
"It was certainly naive on the first yellow card, on the second he was guilty. That doesn't mean he has no future at the club because there's competition for places.
"It has been a bit of a hate and love season for him but I don't believe [he is hated now]. He had quite a good start at Tottenham and he wanted to do so well that maybe he got over frustrated.
"He is not the first player to do that. He has been punished, he has learnt from that, he is still a young player and he is a talented player."
Meanwhile, Wenger has revealed that long-term injured Tomas Rosicky could soon be back in action, while other players are also close to a return, including Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.
He said: "Tomas needs three weeks to play in training fully fit. He is still doing special training but in three weeks he will join in with the first team. It will be three weeks to play in the reserves, touch wood.
"Rosicky looks very good in training, he looks unbelievably strong. Fabregas looks good, (Abou) Diaby will come back. Rosicky is three weeks, Cesc four weeks, Theo two weeks."
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