HITTING BACK ... Emmanuel Adebayor explains
his actions against Arsenal last week and believes he was fully
justified to taunt Arsenal
Adebayor's actions led to a booking and an improper
conduct charge from the FA, despite apologising straight after the
game. But he has revealed why he did it - to ram the vile chants
from fans back down their throats.
Adebayor, who left the Emirates with Kolo Toure in the
summer, said: "People talk about us as being football players and
the money we earn, but just because we are fortunate it does not
mean we need to take abuse.
"If you were to abuse a man in the street for over an
hour he would react and it would be a worse reaction than a goal
celebration! "There is only so much abuse a man can take until he
reaches breaking point. "I was being abused by people who six
months ago were singing my name and the abuse was for no
reason.
"I scored and I wanted to show people it is not a good
idea to abuse me. I really didn't understand it at all. "They were
clapping Kolo but they were shouting personal abuse at me before
the match even kicked off."
Arsenal fans turned against Adebayor towards the end of
his time in North London and chants aimed his way on Saturday were
personal and targeted his family.
The £25million hitman, who claims he suffered 60
minutes of non-stop abuse, said: "I was running on pure emotion and
when you take emotion out of football we are going to have a big
problem.
"People say I had time to think because I ran the
length of the pitch but that is not true. "I was abused all match
and scored a goal I knew would win the game for us. Ten seconds is
nothing. Your emotion is going to last a lot longer than that."
Adebayor says the Arsenal fans were wrong to react the
way they did following his celebration. There was a surge to the
front of the away section and a steward needed hospital treatment
after being knocked unconscious by a flying object.
Adebayor, whose 80th-minute header put City 3-1 up at
the weekend, said: "I know a steward got hurt and I really do want
to say sorry for that because he didn't ask for any of this - he
was just a man doing his job.
"Emotions were running high for me and it is obvious
they were for Arsenal fans as well. "They had just seen me score
the goal that meant they had lost the game and that was very hard
for them to take. "The steward was just doing his job but if things
hadn't been thrown and people had stayed in their seats then that
wouldn't have happened.
"Players should feel like they can celebrate a goal
without the fear of being hit by things. "I think, in terms of
class on the pitch, we have overtaken Arsenal and that was a reason
for some of the hostility."
Adebayor has been banned for three games for stamping
on Robin van Persie's face in the game. Fuming Van Persie released
a 200-word statement blasting his former strike partner. But, while
Adebayor is not contesting the violent conduct rap, he still
insists it was an accidental clash.
The Togo international, 25, said: "I am sorry Robin got
hurt but I can't regret something I did not mean to do. "Anybody
who knows me knows I would not set out to hurt anybody and I would
especially not mean to hurt an old team-mate.
"I really am glad Robin was OK because I know my stud
was close to his eye but there was really nothing I could have done
- there was no way I could have got out of the way in time."
Adebayor says he was wound up ahead of the Premier
League game after being snubbed by some of his old Gunners
team-mates. He explained: "There were players from Arsenal who
refused to shake my hand before the match. "I don't want to give
you their names - that is not my style - but there's more than one
of them.
"My friends, like Eboue, were fine with me. They are
decent people. But I could not understand some of the Arsenal
players being disrespectful towards me. "These are people I have
spent a lot of time with and people I thought were my friends. "I
can just about understand the fans' reaction because they don't
know the full story.
"However the way some of the players behaved is just
crazy. "When a man offers you his hand, you shake it. For them to
act like that was a disgrace."
Adebayor also insists he never asked boss Arsene Wenger
to let him leave the Emirates last season. He said: "I'm not sure
if the fans understand what happened during the end of my time at
Arsenal but I have done nothing wrong.
"An offer came in for me and, as I understand it,
Arsene and the club accepted the offer the same day. It was not my
fault I left, it was Arsene who wanted to accept the offer for me.
"I wasn't making any comments in the Press about wanting to leave
or being unhappy, it was the club who wanted to sell me yet I am
being abused by the fans who once cheered me.
"It makes no sense. Arsenal fans just don't have the
full picture. "I have said many times I enjoyed my time at the club
and I scored a lot of goals. "If they were unhappy with me leaving
they need to take it up with their manager and their board because
I had nothing to do with the sale.
"Arsene has said many things in the Press but I only
take notice of those who matter to me. "I read his comments but, as
the tattoo on my arm says, 'Only God can judge me' not Arsene
Wenger."
Adebayor has to wait until the end of April for his
return to the Emirates in the league. He can expect a rough
reception - but the African will not duck out of it as he believes
City will be in contention to win the title.
He said: "People have asked me if they think I might be
rested for the return match but I hope there is no chance. "I am
not the sort of man to shy away from things, I am not scared or
intimidated by such things.
"I hope by the time the Emirates match comes round we
are still very much fighting for the title at City and we are even
leading the Premier League."
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