Source: Daily_Mail
Emmanuel Adebayor to run gauntlet of hate against former club Arsenal
Ahead of the Carling Cup's most intriguing quarter-final match-up at Eastlands tonight, we can be sure of two things.[LNB]Mark Hughes's Manchester City have recorded a remarkable run of seven straight draws in the league, but this game will be decided tonight and their enigmatic centre forward Emmanuel Adebayor is destined for one of the most memorablenights of his career.[LNB]Much has changed at City since Adebayor marked his team's 4-2 Barclays Premier League victory over Arsenal in September with a studs-first assault on his former team-mate Robin van Persie and then followed his headed goal with a pitch-length dash to goad supporters of the club he left in the summer.[LNB]Hughes's team including Adebayor were flying high then. Two and a half months on, reality has kicked in.[LNB] Provocative: Adebayor's infamous celebration may come back to haunt him[LNB]City are still in decent shape in the league. 'As near as dammit as we hoped we would be,' said Hughes yesterday.[LNB]But the richest club in the world have produced some mediocre football recently and the team's drop in form has been mirrored by that of their star striker. Adebayor has not looked the same player since returning from the three-match ban that followed his attack on Van Persie.[LNB]With Arsenal at Eastlands tonight and Chelsea due there in the league on Saturday evening, it is time once more for City to live up to their star billing.[LNB]A win and a draw in that order would perhaps be enough to ease City's season through the gears once more. Two defeats, though, would place Hughes under a little pressure.[LNB]'These are great games for us,' said Hughes with admirable optimism. 'The motivation is there for everybody to see and if we can get two positive results then we will be out of this habit and on our way.[LNB]'It's been frustrating for us and I think that sense of frustration is mirrored by the fans and everybody connected with the club. But we are not a million miles away from ourtargets and I think there needs to be some realism.'[LNB] Optimism: Hughes is positive ahead of the showdown with Arsenal[LNB]Despite a valuable headed goal in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool recently, Adebayor has not been anywhere near his effervescent best in recent weeks.[LNB]Tonight he will be greeted by a 5,000-strong away following that will be more than eager to vent their feelings. Many Arsenal supporters now view the Togo centre forward in the same dim light as they do Ashley Cole, another player who thought the sun shone brighter elsewhere.[LNB]A few banners in the away end will spell this out tonight but Hughes does not expectAdebayor to be fazed and revealed yesterday that his star summer signing has been carrying an ankle injury recently.[LNB]'He was playing outstandingly well earlier on in the season but he has got an ankle injury that has hampered him,' added Hughes. 'He is playing on with it at the moment but that has to be factored in.[LNB]'He was flying at the start of the season and he gave us a trigger. We have to try to get back to that, as individuals and as a team. We need an intensity to our play and stop giving the opposition encouragement.'[LNB] MARTIN SAMUEL: Manchester City gloom is down to lack of firepowerMark Hughes defends the £13m Manchester City splashed out on agents in spending frenzyEmmanuel Adebayor out on count of three as City take FA charge on the chinMANCHESTER CITY FC
