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It is high time Arsenal booted out the poisonous influence that is Emmanuel Adebayor
By Neil Ashton
Last updated at 7:54 AM on 13th May 2009
Arsenal's supporters seemed a little confused when Emmanuel Adebayor sauntered on to the pitch as a 68th minute substitute for Theo Walcott last Sunday.
Some applauded and others gave him some welly following his controversial comments in the wake of the humiliating defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final.
This clip should at least help clear things up for them once and for all.
The audio of this little-known interview with the Arsenal striker was conducted in Lome, Togo's capital, last summer, around the time that he was denying a Sportsmail story that he wanted to quit the club unless they paid him £80,000 a week.
Click here to listen to the interview with Emmanuel Adebayor
Scroll down for more
Point to prove: Emmanuel Adebayor's future is in doubt
It is a little faint, but don't worry if you can't hear the best bit, as a transcript from the interview, which took place when he was voted BBC Africa Player of the Year, is printed below.
INTERVIEWER: How important is money to footballers? A lot of them say it is not about the money. Is that true?
ADEBAYOR: It is not true, it is about money. You are talking about in life and it is about money. When we are young, of course we played because we loved the game, we play because we were passionate about the game, but when you reach a stage of playing Champions League? If it is not because of money I would not be playing for Arsenal Football Club. If it is not because of money I don't think I would go to Arsenal to play.
More from Ash Wednesday...
Nice guy, isn't he, doing Arsenal a favour by turning out for them every so often, scoring the odd great goal, as he did when he latched on to Cesc Fabregas' lofted pass in the Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal at El Madrigal last month before hooking the ball over his head.
Perhaps we should admire his honesty, laying his cards (and his money) on the table at a time when he was angling for a move to AC Milan, hiring a private jet when the players were given a day off on Monday May 5, 2008, to fly out to meet the powers that be in the San Siro without Arsenal's permission.
When Wenger realised what a poisonous influence he was in the dressing room, he tried to sell him, actively courting offers from some of Europe's leading clubs as he attempted to shake a disruptive from the club.
Word was out that they wanted rid, but Wenger could not line up an adequate replacement (it shouldn't have been that difficult), reluctantly caving in to Adebayor's contract demands in order to keep him sweet for another season. How unfortunate.
A year later Adebayor is playing as though the world owes him a living, forgetting the fact that Wenger plucked him from shuffling around the French league with Monaco and the relative obscurity of playing a few group games in the Champions League, where he had scored 18 goals in 79 appearances, to represent Arsenal in January 2006.
'Ade-barndoor', as Arsenal's increasingly irritated supporters have taken to calling their misfiring striker in recent weeks, has forgotten that it is still a privilege to pull on that famous red jersey with the white sleeves, something a senior player (if there was one at the Emirates) would no doubt remind him.
His performances in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United were a disgrace, something no right-minded Arsenal supporter will ever be able to forgive him for.
Wonder goal: Adebayor scores against Villarreal
At Old Trafford he was the lone striker, with specific instructions of Wenger's utilitarian approach to the game ringing in his ears as he left the dressing room, told to sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team.
It was the same story at the Emirates, only this time he emerged from the dressing room with the broadest grin anyone has ever seen from a player who has just lost a Champions League semi-final in quite humiliating circumstances.
Watch this space: Adebayor
In his own muddled world, he appeared to be eyeing up a role on the board, issuing some sort of vote of no confidence in the manager by telling Wenger that the team had 'gone backwards' since last season.
He explained that they had not adequately replaced Mathieu Flamini (still over-rated, whatever Arsenal fans say) and Alexander Hleb (substitute for Barcelona at best) last summer, slipping even further behind their title rivals this time around.
Again, at least he was honest, but then take into account his behaviour last summer when he told Wenger he wanted to leave unless he was paid £80,000 a week.
He is Thierry Henry all over again, only not anywhere as good. The moment Henry believed Arsenal owed him a living, as he did when he was paid a £5m one-off bonus and £130,000 a week to stay following the 2006 Champions League final defeat, only Adebayor isn't half as good.
Arsenal eventually sold Henry a year too late. Funnily enough, Adebayor is heading the same way.
By Neil Ashton
Last updated at 7:54 AM on 13th May 2009
Arsenal's supporters seemed a little confused when Emmanuel Adebayor sauntered on to the pitch as a 68th minute substitute for Theo Walcott last Sunday.
Some applauded and others gave him some welly following his controversial comments in the wake of the humiliating defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final.
This clip should at least help clear things up for them once and for all.
The audio of this little-known interview with the Arsenal striker was conducted in Lome, Togo's capital, last summer, around the time that he was denying a Sportsmail story that he wanted to quit the club unless they paid him £80,000 a week.
Click here to listen to the interview with Emmanuel Adebayor
Scroll down for more
Point to prove: Emmanuel Adebayor's future is in doubt
It is a little faint, but don't worry if you can't hear the best bit, as a transcript from the interview, which took place when he was voted BBC Africa Player of the Year, is printed below.
INTERVIEWER: How important is money to footballers? A lot of them say it is not about the money. Is that true?
ADEBAYOR: It is not true, it is about money. You are talking about in life and it is about money. When we are young, of course we played because we loved the game, we play because we were passionate about the game, but when you reach a stage of playing Champions League? If it is not because of money I would not be playing for Arsenal Football Club. If it is not because of money I don't think I would go to Arsenal to play.
More from Ash Wednesday...
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- ASH WEDNESDAY: It's decision time for Foster - walk out of Old Trafford and into the England No 1 shirt, or risk another season as first reserve 14/04/09
- ASH WEDNESDAY: Aston Villa are not good enough to finish fourth 07/04/09
- ASH WEDNESDAY: How much has Sir Trevor developed English football 31/03/09
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- Ash Wednesday: Rotating Rafa will pay for not running Liverpool like Paisley 17/03/09
- VIEW FULL ARCHIVE
Nice guy, isn't he, doing Arsenal a favour by turning out for them every so often, scoring the odd great goal, as he did when he latched on to Cesc Fabregas' lofted pass in the Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal at El Madrigal last month before hooking the ball over his head.
Perhaps we should admire his honesty, laying his cards (and his money) on the table at a time when he was angling for a move to AC Milan, hiring a private jet when the players were given a day off on Monday May 5, 2008, to fly out to meet the powers that be in the San Siro without Arsenal's permission.
When Wenger realised what a poisonous influence he was in the dressing room, he tried to sell him, actively courting offers from some of Europe's leading clubs as he attempted to shake a disruptive from the club.
Word was out that they wanted rid, but Wenger could not line up an adequate replacement (it shouldn't have been that difficult), reluctantly caving in to Adebayor's contract demands in order to keep him sweet for another season. How unfortunate.
A year later Adebayor is playing as though the world owes him a living, forgetting the fact that Wenger plucked him from shuffling around the French league with Monaco and the relative obscurity of playing a few group games in the Champions League, where he had scored 18 goals in 79 appearances, to represent Arsenal in January 2006.
'Ade-barndoor', as Arsenal's increasingly irritated supporters have taken to calling their misfiring striker in recent weeks, has forgotten that it is still a privilege to pull on that famous red jersey with the white sleeves, something a senior player (if there was one at the Emirates) would no doubt remind him.
His performances in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United were a disgrace, something no right-minded Arsenal supporter will ever be able to forgive him for.
Wonder goal: Adebayor scores against VillarrealAt Old Trafford he was the lone striker, with specific instructions of Wenger's utilitarian approach to the game ringing in his ears as he left the dressing room, told to sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team.
It was the same story at the Emirates, only this time he emerged from the dressing room with the broadest grin anyone has ever seen from a player who has just lost a Champions League semi-final in quite humiliating circumstances.
Watch this space: AdebayorIn his own muddled world, he appeared to be eyeing up a role on the board, issuing some sort of vote of no confidence in the manager by telling Wenger that the team had 'gone backwards' since last season.
He explained that they had not adequately replaced Mathieu Flamini (still over-rated, whatever Arsenal fans say) and Alexander Hleb (substitute for Barcelona at best) last summer, slipping even further behind their title rivals this time around.
Again, at least he was honest, but then take into account his behaviour last summer when he told Wenger he wanted to leave unless he was paid £80,000 a week.
He is Thierry Henry all over again, only not anywhere as good. The moment Henry believed Arsenal owed him a living, as he did when he was paid a £5m one-off bonus and £130,000 a week to stay following the 2006 Champions League final defeat, only Adebayor isn't half as good.
Arsenal eventually sold Henry a year too late. Funnily enough, Adebayor is heading the same way.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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