Source: SKY_Sports
Wenger - Ade owes Gunners
Arsene Wenger feels Emmanuel Adebayor will one day realise how important Arsenal were in his career.
The Togolese striker left the Gunners for Manchester City over the summer in a £25million switch.
That move ended a three-year association with the North London club, with Wenger having snapped up the African ace from Monaco in January 2006.
Adebayor's time spent in the capital helped to raise his profile and establish him as one of world football's most dangerous frontmen.
He does, however, appear to have little regard for the time and effort put in by the Gunners in helping him on the path to superstardom.
An animosity-fuelled showing against his former employers on Saturday suggests there is no love lost between Adebayor and Arsenal.
Wenger, though, believes the 25-year-old will eventually reflect on his time at the Emirates Stadium as being a positive influence on his game.
"My thought is that Emmanuel Adebayor deserves to be charged for what he did," said Wenger, referring to a stamping incident and unnecessary goal celebration by the City striker.
"But I was surprised that there was such animosity in his attitude towards Arsenal because in a few years he will realise that Arsenal has been great for him.
"That is why I was deeply surprised and shocked."
The Frenchman continued: "Only he can say if he will regret leaving.
"All I can say is that is life and professional football players move on.
"In life, the goal is to be objective enough in seeing who helped you and who didn't help you, who had a positive influence on you or not.
"You can sometimes be disappointed in the short term.
"But still I believe that when you take distance with the events,
you always get to the right judgement.
"I think the longer distance will make Adebayor realise that Arsenal was a very positive influence in his life."
