Arsene Wenger has unearthed alot of potentials over his illustrious career at Arsenal. Many go on to become the world beaters he thought they would be such names flow off the tongue; Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Nicola Anelka, Cesc Fabregas and Kolo Toure.
Others proved not to be so eye catching; Igors Stepanovs, Kaba diawara, Jermaine Pennant and Jose Antino Reyes to name just a few. One Player brought to Arsenal in January 2006 had all the attributes a Wenger player should boast, that player was Emmanuel Adebayor, Which category he would fall in to is prety much divided throughout the Emirates.
Adebayor arrived in England in the January transfer window of 2006. Arsene Wenger noted his attack lacked something, another approach to his team’s stylish build up play, another way to switch from defence to attack with a single direct pass forward, a target man. Adebayor fitted the bill for wenger perfectly, strong, good in the air good with the ball at his feet and eager to impress. An unknown quantity on these shores Adebayor was following in his idols footsteps another player similar in stature and another Highbury hero Nwankwo Kanu, the reason for his number 25 shirt.
Scoring on his debut for the Gunners against Birmingham was the start of a relationship with Thierry Henry, it seemed Adebayor was in oar of the mercurial Frenchman always when they played together Adebayor would play with lots of energy closing down and puting opposing defenders under pressure with his huge frame, this was something fans were noticing, their dance routine celebration said all about the way Adebayor looked up to Henry. A goal at Old traford for Arsenal’s first win that season was always going to hold him in high esteem with fans.
07/08 season made Adebayor, Henry had packed his bags and houseful of personal honours and headed for Catalonia. His performances stepped up but so did his ego, no loner the understudy, he was now as Wenger always predicted Arsenal’s target man. You can not mistake Adebayor’s quality through that season such goals against Spurs at white hart lane was one of the best goals i’ve seen for technique in a volley in a long time, his finish against west ham at Emirates on new years day from nearly an impossible angle and such a threat in the air with such efforts against Villa at Villa park and Fulham at Craven cottege. The goals racked up but unfortunately so did the ego it was when at the end of this season Adebayor was to start to press the self destruct button on his Arsenal career.
The King is dead long live the king was Adebayor’s own view at Arsenal, Henry has left “i’ve scored 30 goals, now i’m the main man so pay me what he was on”. This was the start of an on going transfer saga that infuriated fans which started to alienate the player from his own fans. the player would not kill off speculation, until holding Arsenal to ransom and penning at the last minute a deal that reportedly doubled his wages. Last season was the final straw for fans as Adebayor didn’t feature alot threw injury but when he did he looked frustratingly uninterested, making Berbatov look like a kid in a sweet shop. A stunning goal in the Champions League was a reminder of what this player is capable of, but then we were to witness the most uninterested displays in his two biggest Arsenal games. These two games shouldn’t need motivating, United in Champions League semi final’s and Chelsea in the F.A. cup semi’s. This was the point and probably the reason why much Arsenal fans wont miss the Togo front man. What it seems is that money is more the motivation than playing at the top level.
Hopefully not all players will end up like Adebayor a great great talent that was on to good things at Arsenal, but sadly high wage demands and poor performances will probably be remembered. Both clubs will probably prosper from the deal City have another class forward at there disposal and Arsenal are 25 million beter of not that that will go to financing new players (probably to an unknown kid that will be good in 5 years time and when he eventually fits the bill will want to leave). Hopefully now the players goals will be more motivating for him – breaking the top four…… I think the 130k a week will be a slight motivation, compared to Champions League football and challenging for the title. I was a big fan of Adebayor and always backed him in a pub talk discussion but i feel a bit saddened by this deal as a football fan that has followed the game my whole life and something tells me he is not the last player that will follow the pound signs.
