Arsène Wenger has revealed that Emmanuel Adebayor spurned the offer of a far more lucrative contract at a rival European club to remain at Arsenal, and he insisted that the striker, who has been targeted by sections of the club's support this season, was guilty of little more than "PR mistakes" over the course of a tumultuous summer.
Adebayor inflamed the passions of some Arsenal fans by seeming to encourage the advances of Barcelona and Milan. He told the Barcelona-based newspaper El Mundo Deportivo that he would be "delighted" to play for the Catalan club one day - "There is no player who can say no to Barcelona," he said - while he added that it was "flattering" to be linked with them and Milan.
If the comments were designed to drive up his wage at Arsenal, they worked because he agreed a new and greatly improved deal earlier this month. But Wenger, who signed the Togo international from Monaco for €4.5m (£3.6m) in January 2006, urged the home crowd, who have jeered Adebayor in both matches so far at Emirates Stadium, to see the bigger picture.
"Emmanuel's transfer saga and the fact he was wanted by all the clubs in Europe was not down to him, it was down to his performances," said Wenger, who admitted that Adebayor was "hurting" at the abuse he has suffered. "In the end, he has chosen to stay. Why should that on top [of everything] turn against him? That is very hard for him to take.
"We have to be realistic. That he is wanted [by leading clubs] is an honour for Arsenal; that he has decided to stay is as well an honour and the fact that he made financial sacrifices is as well an honour for the club. On top of that, we turn against him?
"We have a story here that has been manipulated against him but just look at the facts. I have experience with many players and I can tell you that face to face, I have seen him many times and he always said that he wanted to stay. Of course, if you can earn 10 here and 130 there, you are ready to stay for 60 but not for 10."
Wenger, who is expected to restore Adebayor to the starting line-up against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium today, after using him as a substitute against FC Twente in the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night, suggested that public relations was not among the player's strong points but naivety in this area was more a virtue than a vice.
"I like it when a player is not PR [savvy] because when they become PR, they always have the right behaviour outside and the wrong inside," said Wenger. "I prefer the reverse situation, a guy who makes a few mistakes. When you know about PR, you are always in the shit as a manager. They always have a series of things that people want to hear and they never behave as they talk.
"I can give you plenty of examples but in Adebayor's case, he maybe made PR mistakes but on what is really important, the way he trained, the way he worked, the way he behaved on a daily basis ... he was a credit. We have to be intelligent enough inside, and the fans as well, to support him. He needs the fans to be behind him. He is always under pressure to score goals but we want him to feel relaxed and play football like he loves to."
Gunners' hard road
Arsène Wenger is alarmed that each of Arsenal's Champions League Group G away ties is followed by a testing away match in the Premier League and he believes that how his players handle the mental and physical demands will define their domestic season. Arsenal travel to Bolton Wanderers after Dynamo Kiev, West Ham United after Fenerbahce and Middlesbrough after Porto.
"It's a concern," he said. "You prefer to play at home after a Champions League away tie. The way we handle those fixtures can make or break our Premier League season. There will be some long, difficult trips - but we want to cope with it and of course come out of it. It gives you an edge in the Premier League if you qualify early, then you are not under stress to give absolutely everything in one important game later in the group."
