Emmanuel Adebayor has
challenged his Arsenal team-mates to lay down a marker for next
season by beating Chelsea on Sunday.
Chelsea must realistically win at Emirates Stadium to have any
chance of catching Manchester United in the Premiership title race,
but Adebayor insists it is a very big game for Arsenal as
well.
The Togo international was involved in the brawl that marred
Arsenal's Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea in February, but he
is adamant that Sunday's clash is about more than revenge.
Adebayor wants Arsenal to put on a good display in their final home
game of the season, and boost confidence ahead of next term.
He said: "It is not about us taking revenge. We are just going to
play the game to win for the fans and as a footballer you always
want to win against a big team like Chelsea.
"There is a big rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal and it is
always a tough game on the pitch.
"We have already shown we are as good as Chelsea, because the way
we play football is amazing.
"This season we have had a lot of bad luck, but we have learned a
lot and now in this big game on Sunday we have to prove to our fans
that they can still believe in us for next season.
"We are doing our job and are progressing in each game. We have to
keep on going and give it our best.
"It is important for us to finish as well as possible and we can
still finish third. That is what we are working for."
Ashley Cole will return to Arsenal for the first time since
transferring to Chelsea last summer but Adebayor hopes the response
to him will not be too negative.
"I do not know what happened between Ashley and the club, I just
know him as a footballer," he said.
"Ashley is a good player and a good person. When I first came to
the club he helped me a lot.
"I do not know how the fans are going to treat him next week, but I
hope the fans focus on us rather than him."