Wenger woe as Adebayor injury cuts Gunners’ arsenal

ARSENAL will be without striker Emmanuel Adebayor for the trip to Sheffield United on Saturday. The in-form Togo striker picked up a thigh strain during the final stages of the 2-1 win at Watford.

With captain Thierry Henry still sidelined because of a problem with his sciatic nerve, manager Arsene Wenger is already short in attack.

The hamstring problem suffered by defender Johan Djourou at Vicarage Road is, however, not considered too serious. Wenger said: “Djourou is injured a little bit, but what is worse that we lost Adebayor with a thigh strain. It is exactly the same but on the other leg. He will be out for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Julio Baptista hopes to stay at Arsenal beyond this season – but admits his future is uncertain.

The 25-year-old Brazilian attacking-midfielder – signed on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in a move which saw Jose Antonio Reyes go in the opposite direction – has struggled to make much of an impact in the Premiership.

However, Baptista claims that is due to limited playing time – he has made just two starts for the Gunners and appeared as a late substitute during the St Stephen’s Day win at Watford.

The Brazilian, however, is adamant he will be a success when he has fully adapted to life in the Premiership.

Baptista said: “Arsene Wenger tells me he will wait until I get used to this league, but until I play regularly I won’t achieve that. The idea is to participate as much as possible and at the end of the year evaluate everything and decide if the positives outweigh the negatives.

“I don’t want to be just one more player. I want to help the team. But I can imagine myself being here for a few seasons.”

He added: “Real are a very different side to the one I left. Capello would have to change his system for me to get back in the team.

“I don’t know if my exit was down to the club or Capello.”

Former Sevilla man Baptista was signed by Wenger to bolster a midfield which lost not only Reyes in the close season but also Robert Pires, who joined Villarreal.

Pires has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Yellow Submarines due to a knee injury but he is already hankering after a return to Arsenal.

The former France international said: “After my two years here, I would love to play one last season for Arsenal.”

Pires quipped: “Arsene, boss, have you got the message?”