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Adebayor Sticking With Arsenal
The good news for Arsenal is that most of their summer transfer drama is over. They have finished Arsene Wenger’s bargain shopping tour (which always seems to work out well) and after losing Mathieu Flamini in May, did not lose anybody irreplaceable (apologies to Alexander Hleb, your shoes will be filled). The return to health of many vital cogs will lift the Gunners as the year moves on. Though they still have the empty space Flamini’s eastern journey left, Arsenal has said they may be done shopping. In addition to the good news of the team being mostly set, Arsenal has a squad that can compete in the Premiership, with their attack being left in tact, if not bolstered.
The bad news is that their attack not changing means Emmanuel Adebayor will return.
Adebayor is a world-class talent, to be sure, even if last year’s goal total (30) exaggerates his contributions. If his tally fell to below twenty he would still be a valuable part of the Arsenal team, his physical stature and ability to push the back line providing a needed dimension. With Robin van Persie due to be healthier, Carlos Vela in the fold, Nicklas Bendnter and Theo Walcott’s improvements, the acquisition of Samir Nasri and the returns of Eduardo de Silva and Tomas Rosicky (it really is an embarrassment of riches at the Emirates), Wenger will have no problem finding players who can pick up for the ten to 15-goal-drop Adebayor should encounter. Adebayor had 36 goals in his six year career before Cesc Fabregas’s improvement helped him to his remarkable season. It may be too much to expect replication.
As long as Arsenal has Fabregas performing at an elite level and can surround him with talent, players like Adebayor are expendable. That Arsenal was not about to cash-in on a £25 to £30 payday is the bad news. Adebayor could easily be replaced from within, or the money could have been used to upgrade a number of positions. Flamini has yet to be adequately replaced, and some would like Arsenal to admit their center backs could be better. Both of those problems could have been addressed with the money Wenger would have gotten from Barcelona or AC Milan.
Even sell him to Chelsea and hope that the Blues use that as reason to get rid of Didier Drogba, the player whose two goals in last season’s reverse-fixture helped ruin the Gunners’ league campaign.
Wenger may value Adebayor much higher than most. Either that or he misjudged what Barça would be willing to pay. Instead, Wenger has given Adebayor a contract extension which will run until 2012, doubling his pay rate to £80,000 per week. Both sides were effusive yesterday in announcing the deal, happy that they could put this summer behind them and concentrate on the season.
Wenger’s happiness not withstanding, Arsenal fans have not forgotten or forgiven so quickly. Adebayor was booed at home when Arsenal faced Juventus today in the Emirates Cup. Perceived now as ungrateful and greedy, Adebayor will have to win back the hearts of Arsenal fans who had already started to turn on him after his poor showings in the second half of last season were blamed for Arsenal’s failings in the Premiership and Champions Leagues. The respect the supporters have for Wenger’s evaluations might not be enough, in the short term, to make Gunner fans forget that the Togoan seemed willing to go everywhere and anywhere for a raise.
Contrasted with those feelings, £25 million in Arsene Wenger’s hands looks pretty good. The increasingly moody Adebayor, who this summer expressed disappointment with how he was received at the end of last season, would be best to let the impending criticism run off his back. Give effort on the pitch, regardless of whether that leads to goals, and you will win the fans back. But in the interim, you will not be winning any fan’s player of the year awards.
We must live with the decisions we make, as confusing as that can be when you re-sign with a club you spent all summer trying to leave.
This article will be edited and posted to American Soccer Reader at some point today.
Quotes
“Now I can tell everyone that yes, I will sign a contract.” - Adebayor
‘When I was on holiday I never went on to the internet, I never read the newspapers, so to be honest I was with my family so my phone was off, so I didn’t know what was happening. When I came back I realised what was happening - but, you know, the thing has happened already so now the most important thing is behind me and I will show everyone this club has given me a lot of things.” - Adebayor
“I have four more years’ contract. I am very happy that we have found a solution to stay here and my heart is with Arsenal.” - Adebayor
“All I have to do is play my football and I know the fans always love me, so there is no reason to not love me anymore because I am still here.” - Adebayor
Links
Another preseason setback for Arsenal
Ade booed as Arsenal are beaten
Adebayor has change of heart on Arsenal future
Adebayor jeered as Arsenal ensure another pre-season setback
Adebayor signs new Arsenal deal
Ade extends Gunners stay
Wenger sees off Barcelona and Milan to sign Adebayor for four more years
Adebayor agrees to sign new Arsenal deal
My heart is with Gunners, says Adebayor
Adebayor to extend Arsenal deal through 2012
Adebayor staying at Arsenal
Adebayor says he’s staying at Arsenal
Adebayor vows to stay at Arsenal
I will sign new contract says Adebayor
Adebayor sticking with Gunners
Adebayor says he is staying at Arsenal
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