Wenger plea over Adebayor
19 Aug 2008 - 08:47:59
Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal supporters to get behind Emmanuel Adebayor following his decision to sign a new long-term contract with the club.
The Togo striker finally ended a summer of speculation linking him to AC Milan and Barcelona after putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract on Monday evening.
Adebayor appeared to welcome reports linking him to Milan last month with a series of conflicting statements and received a mixed reception from fans during Saturday's season-opening 1-0 victory over West Brom at the Emirates Stadium.
But after pledging his future to the Gunners, Wenger hopes that Gunners fans will now rally behind the 24-year-old striker.
"We have to get behind him because he is a tremendous force and (is of) tremendous importance for the team," he said.
"What happened in the transfer period did not always reflect his deep desire and there was manipulation from agents on both sides.
"But overall I am positive he will recover."
Adebayor has scored 47 goals in 107 appearances for Arsenal since his arrival from Monaco in January 2006.