Arsenal-Mania

Praise for Adebayor from ex-pros

By Jonathan Chong on Thursday, June 26, 2008

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been praised by former Arsenal players Terry Neil, Stewart Robson and Perry Groves.

The general consensus was that the Togolese international provided the Gunners with an 'extra dimension' to their attack, and being the club's top scorer last season, nobody would argue with that assessment.

Groves said: "He did surprise me and, no disrespect, it was because of his finishing.

"When he first came into the side his finishing was a little bit erratic but he has worked on that and any striker who can get 24 league goals is worth big money.

"It isn't just the goals that he is judged on because he played up front on his own a lot last season and his work rate, his work ethic, is excellent, and so is his hold-up play.

"He gives us another dimension. We have scored more from headers too.

"He will only get better but I'd like to see him playing alongside someone. Big centre forwards are few and far between and he is also quick, which people don't often realise and when he gets in the channels I'd like to see him be a bit more greedy, take players on and get into the box.

"Most Arsenal players' first thought is to pass rather than shoot and perhaps I'd like to see that around the other way. But as I say Adebayor's finishing has improved and in a team like Arsenal which creates numerous chances his ratio is quite good.

"If he could improve even more, because he does miss a few, you can see him getting maybe 35 next season."

Neill added: "He shouldered a huge burden. With all due respect to the rest of the players, Adebayor was the main individual and he just terrorised defences with his touch and his passing, his ability to bring team-mates into play.

"He improved immeasurably last season and I look forward to even greater things for him next year. It was just unfortunate that, with the injuries Robin van Persie had, the two of them couldn't link up more often.

"You have to keep your fingers crossed that the two of them stay 100 per cent fit next season because they could be a lethal combination. Adebayor gives them that aerial strength too but every aspect of his game has improved, not just individually but in terms of his team play. That has been immense."

Robson admitted that he was convinced Dutch striker Robin van Persie would be the club's main striker this season but Adebayor led the Arsenal attack for the whole of last season.

Robson said: "I think we all thought van Persie was going to be the main striker but I actually wrote an article before the start of the season saying that Adebayor could be as good as Drogba is for Chelsea.

"He has the same attributes - he can run in behind, he can hold the ball up, he can head it, he can link the play, and in fact I think he's a better technical player than Drogba.

"So I wasn't surprised by how well he has done because I've always thought he was a good player. I was surprised by the number of goals he scored and some of the composure he showed in front of goal at times, not always, but most of the time."

User Comments

9

thegrigga

Posted on 28 Jun, 2008 at 12:53 AM - Reply

Only scores tap in's? well the tap in's against spurs,newcastle and fulham to name just a few we're some of the best tap in's i've seen!

8

Dillan Patel

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 07:57 PM - Reply

I am annoyed and i need to get this out! Adebayor do not sell him, if you do replace him with David Villa as he has shown his desire to join Arsenal.
Today on SKysports i saw that we want to buy crouch and this has really really annoyed me! he is slow cannot header properly and will ruin arsenals game...wenger sed he is not scared to spend money. WELL SPEND IT ON GOOD PLAYERS..crouch could not get into liverpool team ahead of Kuyt or Babel so how is he gunna replace ADE?

7

matt

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 07:31 PM - Reply

These guys need to take off their rose tinted shades. i expected better from ex footballers but hey no one expected them to publicly crtisize him.

6

Scott

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 05:34 PM - Reply

Ade had a good season and I appreciate his hard work and effort. However, if we get $24M for him I would not be heartbroken. We could then buy Villa or Crouch and hopefully a tall strong CB.

5

truth_hurts

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 03:07 PM - Reply

exactly. I can't see why some fans can't se what an instrumental player he is for us. Yes he might miss a few but he it is his movement which makes our midfield so many passing options. Also agree he is much better with a partner, early signs of the eduardo/ade partnership were good

4

Danju

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 02:13 PM - Reply

Well, everybody with with his own opinion. But for me he missed so many chances. Last season.

3

David

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 12:44 PM - Reply

Sell this idiot, who only knows how to score easy tap-in goals. If this guy really demands 120k/week, he is way too greedy. Even Henry only got paid 130k in the last two seasons, so who the hell does he think he is? Get rid of this rubbish if some italian team needs him so badly and buy Villa or Sliver instead. I have said it long before that Ade is just not Arsenal's class.

2

Arsenalcentric

Posted on 26 Jun, 2008 at 11:54 AM - Reply

He improved technically last season, and he can still add more to his game if he stays at arsenal..If he leaves i see AC milan wondering why in the world did they buy such a crap player hope he chooses wisely this a determining season for him..