Adebayor - I owe Wenger

Gunners striker thanks boss for opportunity

By James Dall   Last updated: 7th March 2008

Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal smiling

Adebayor: Grateful

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Emmanuel Adebayor has told Sky Sports News that he is in Arsene Wenger's debt after the Frenchman brought him to Arsenal.

Wenger signed the Togo international from Monaco in January 2006 for £7million.

Adebayor managed four goals in the second half of the 2005/2006 campaign, but came in for criticism for his apparent lack of composure in front of goal.

And while the 24-year-old managed just 12 goals in 45 appearances last season; he soon won over The Gunners faithful after demonstrating his tireless work ethic.

This season, Adebayor's performances have improved in staggering fashion, with the powerful striker already netting 23 goals.

And speaking to Sky Sports News, he has admitted that his goals are a way of repaying the faith shown in him by Wenger after he struggled in the latter stages of his Monaco career.

"To pay him back is going to be very difficult," he told Sky Sports News.

"At Monaco, from June to December I scored only one goal in 19 games. How come Arsene Wenger came and looked for me?

Special

"It is something special. He is the one who gave me a chance to become who I am today. I want to keep on enjoying myself and listening to him."

Adebayor also discussed Arsenal's progress to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after they defeated Milan with a wonderful display in the San Siro - winning the tie 2-0 on aggregate.

"We have the team, we have the quality. No doubt about that. We just have to take things game by game," he continued.

"At the moment we are in the quarter-finals and we do not know who we will be drawn against.

"But the most important thing is that we keep on enjoying ourselves."

Trophies

When asked whether he would prefer to continue his prolific scoring run or claim titles at the end of the season, he said: "There is no doubt. I would go for the trophies.

"I don't care about scoring. I am here to win something. For me, the most important thing is to give 100 per cent in every single game and at the end of the year we shall see what we have achieved.

"This team is young; we are all here to achieve things together. We know we have the ability. We just have to keep on going and achieve something for our fans."