Football is a strange game. One day you're a squad player at Monaco and the next a potential star at Arsenal. Then, you score thirty goals in a season and want triple your salary - otherwise, you say that you would leave Arsenal with clubs interested to pay 30 million pounds for your services.
Well, that was the shortest way of putting across Emmanuel Adebayor's story to anyone who doesn't know him.
Arsenal have been a selling club. We've sold (most notably) Thierry Henry when he was 30, Patrick Vieira when he was 30, Fredrik Ljungberg when he was 31 and recently lost (not sold) Mathieu Flamini, who was 23. I'm trying to pick out one player who has been successful after leaving Arsenal - a player who has even eclipsed his previous form at Arsenal and I have come up with...
Nobody.
Invariably, Arsenal sell players who are past their prime. Obviously, I'm not going to use Adebayor's example because like in life there are exceptions to the rules and Adebayor is just that. But, dangerous precedents are there for him to see. Nicolas Anelka was brain washed by his agents and was made to leave Arsenal after just two good seasons and his career has been all over the place. Adebayor seems hell-bent on following "Le Sulk" out of Arsenal.
Arsenal should grant his wish to leave. I'm not saying this because I'm fed up. I'm saying this because Adebayor has a massive ego which will hurt the club in the long run.
Arsenal are not embarrassed to not sell Adebayor - Arsene Wenger wants to know how far Barcelona will bid for his Togolese striker and if reports are to be believed, Joan Laporta's Barcelona are being robbed - bidding 30 million pounds for a one-season wonder is the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard.
Arsene Wenger said at the end of last season that he thought at the beginning of the campaign Adebayor would score only half of what he scored (30 goals) and challenged him to show his consistency during the next season.
Adebayor has probably decided to turn his back on "Le Boss" as he now seeks to move away from The Emirates. But, unfortunately for him and Barcelona, its Arsenal who hold all the cards.
Adebayor has a four-year contract with Arsenal and he will not be doing himself any favours by publicly declaring his wish to leave again as there is still a chance that he would pull on the Arsenal shirt again next season. Maybe he should talk to Hleb about his Public Relations because as much as the Belorussian has irritated me, I'm not so sure that I want to see Adebayor at Arsenal next season.
It's time for Wenger to cash in on Adebayor because come next season, there is every possibility that "The Togonator" will not fire on all cylinders again which will lead to the reduction of his value, but not that of his ego.
Adebayor has to realize that he, like every footballer is replaceable. If he stays on next season, my fellow Arsenal fans will embrace him without a doubt, but will always have the farcical press conference he had a week ago in the back of their heads.
Football is no place for big egos and Arsenal are no different. If Wenger wants his team to dominate, we need more players like Cesc Fabregas, not Emmanuel Adebayor.
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3 months ago
You are so true, quite frankly I wouldn't buy him for £20million let alone 30, and i'd preferably have Van persie starting anyway. Let him go.
3 months ago
I think Adebayor's lost his head..his value.I'd say would 5-10m
3 months ago
Agreed- If he wants to stay, let him. If it simply comes down to salary, get rid of him.....and reap the 30 Mil reward :) I'm sure theres more than enough decent players out there willing to join the Gunners that could do his job!
3 months ago
The thing about Adebayor is that when he's on his game he is a handful- quick and most notably a physical presence, which is something Arsenal are missing
If he were to leave, who would come in to replace him? I think someone with a similar style and physique would be needed...
but I completely agree with your article- one season wonder with an over inflated ego - he's worth 15 mil tops
3 months ago
Great article-I think you've hit the nail on the head. Adebayor does have talent, and I think his season last year proves that. However, he still missed quite a few easy chances, and showed flashes of the wastefulness in front goal that made him a bit maddening in the 2006-2007 campaign. His quotes about his wage matching Henry's were absurd. Henry was only the best striker in the Premiership for several seasons, and a premier player in the world. I'd love to offload Ade to Barca for 30 million, take the check and spend it on someone more affordable and perhaps more deadly in front of goal. Of course, with Joan Laporta's problems and the rash of resignations from the Barca board, I don't know how much transfer business they will be conducting in the next week or so.
I think the key to remember is that if we do unload Ade, Arsene would need to add a striker. Although I think Van Persie is fantastically talented, he's injury prone, Eduardo is recovering still from Taylor's horrendous challenge, Walcott will probably be deployed on the right at times still (if there is a God, because Eboue is absolute rubbish), Vela will need a season to adjust, and Bendtner is still a bit spotty, though he can do a job. For a team that could have benefited from a little more offensive output and ruthlessness in front of goal last season, having one more proven option up front would not hurt. I've heard Roque Santa Cruz as a possibility, and he impressed me last year with Blackburn. If we added him, his cost wouldn't likely be prohibitive and we might even be able to use the spare proceeds from selling Ade to add depth in central defense, which I still think is a weak link. Of course, you wouldn't hear me scoff if the Arsenal were to go for someone like Huntelaar, either, despite the likely cost.
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