Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed the shocking way Arsène Wenger pushed him out of Arsenal after a standout 2007/08 season, where he netted 30 goals.
The forward, once hailed as Thierry Henry’s successor, was the subject of interest from top European clubs. Despite signing a new contract, Adebayor’s bond with Wenger soured, and the next summer, he was sidelined by the manager.
Adebayor shared his surprise at Wenger’s harsh decision in an interview with Optus Sport, recounting the moment he was told that he no longer had a future at Arsenal.
“After a fantastic season, I returned from holiday only to be told by Wenger, ‘I don’t need you anymore,’” he recalled. “I wanted to fight for my place, but he made it clear I wouldn’t be part of any squads.”
The situation escalated when Adebayor arrived at the training ground the following day, only to be denied entry. “That’s when I realized it was over,” he said.
Following his move to Manchester City, Adebayor had a point to prove and didn’t hold back when facing Arsenal.
After scoring against his former club at the Etihad, Adebayor ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the away fans, an act that earned him a £25,000 fine and a suspended ban.
“I had no regrets,” Adebayor insisted, explaining that the anger he felt from Arsenal fans’ abuse toward his parents fueled his dramatic celebration. “They were attacking my family, and I couldn’t let that slide.”
After stints at Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Istanbul Basaksehir, Adebayor retired from football in 2023, leaving behind a career that included 205 goals in 591 appearances. His time at Arsenal saw him score 62 goals in 142 matches.