Michael Owen unveiling
a brochure to attract buyers for himself is one
thing - Arsenal fans doing likewise to attract a buyer for Emmanuel
Adebayor is another.
While Owen's glossy pages spoke of "The Athlete, The Ambassador,
The Icon", a replica produced by a group of Arsenal fans made a
series of claims on Adebayor's behalf that were not altogether
flattering.
According to his Emirates admirers, Adebayor's "brand values"
included the Togo striker being "not small...wifi
enabled...definitely not lazy..." Not to mention being "better than
Marlon Harewood and Mido put together."
You get the picture. To the sound of tongues drilling holes in
cheeks, this snapshot of Arsenal's support suggested he would not
be missed should he leave.
And this is why Arsenal fans have not been storming the Emirates
in fury at the club's decision to
accept £25m of Manchester City's Abu Dhabi riches.
The reasoning is that Arsenal's team and bank balance would be
enhanced by cashing in on Adebayor - and it is a theory based in
sound logic.
Arsenal have bade farewell to a succession of high-profile
players over the years, but very few have been sent on their way
with such a wave of indifference as Adebayor. When covering Arsenal
games last season, you had to try very hard to detect obvious signs
of goodwill from supporters towards the player.
Thierry Henry
and Patrick
Vieira departed with good grace and best wishes,
Emmanuel Petit and
Marc Overmars to Barcelona and Nicolas Anelka to Real
Madrid for a huge profit. Ashley Cole
went to Chelsea in exchange for cash and William Gallas amid
well-chronicled rancour.
Mathieu
Flamini was a regrettable departure on a free transfer
to AC Milan, while Alexander Hleb has proved
at Barcelona that Wenger got that call spot on.
As far as the Adebayor deal is concerned, the main fear among
Arsenal's following is not that the deal will be completed, but
that it might collapse.
It is all a far cry from the summer of 2008 when the gifted
striker was basking in the achievement of scoring 30 goals in 48
games, a wonderful return that inevitably made him a target for
Europe's elite.
AC Milan and Barcelona were among those courted, and even though
he eventually signed a new and
improved long-term contract, things have never been the
same since.
Arsenal's supporters have since, in the main, treated Adebayor
with a mixture of reserve and suspicion - and now see the prospect
of receiving £25m in exchange for his services as another prime
example of manager Arsene Wenger's ability to strike a good
deal.
Manchester City's summer signings have all looked to have had a
place in the grander scheme. Gareth
Barry will provide maturity and quality in midfield,
Roque Santa
Cruz had his most fruitful goalscoring season under Mark
Hughes at Blackburn and Carlos
Tevez will provide industry and inspiration.
Adebayor? A goal threat and natural ability certainly, as his
brilliant overhead kick against Villarreal in the Champions League
proved - but a move to Eastlands does not appear to be the most
natural fit.
Arsenal have the striking quality to compensate for Adebayor's
absence. Robin van Persie, a
more potent and driven player, has committed his future to the
club and Andriy Arshavin gave
golden glimpses of his quality last season.
Wenger will hope Eduardo, a natural and clinical marksman, can
put injuries behind him while Carlos Vela could not be in better
hands than Wenger's as he develops a potentially world-class
talent.
Nicklas Bendtner is highly-rated by Wenger, who could use the
Adebayor cash to add to that weaponry, as well as hunt down the
combative midfield enforcer to add physical strength on top of the
arrival of £10m defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Bordeaux's Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh has emerged as a
potential target, but as ever Wenger will not be rushed.
Wenger, we can say with some certainty, will have a plan and
there is no obvious
displeasure that it might not include the enigmatic, albeit
lavishly talented, figure of Adebayor.