Adebayor: from down to clout

IT SAYS much about the emphasis placed on bright young things at Arsenal that Emmanuel Adebayor is considered a veteran at the age of 22, but he has every right to feel older than his tender years.

The Togo forward has already experienced more exhilarating highs and stultifying lows this season than many of his colleagues have tasted in their entire careers. Pilloried in the summer after a series of performances which ranged from the clumsy to the comical, Adebayor has established himself as Arsenal’s second-choice striker behind Thierry Henry.

He is close to indispensable and it is telling that Arsene Wenger felt unable to tackle Tottenham in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final without him. Adebayor rewarded his manager’s faith with the opening goal and a powerhouse performance that propelled his team into the Cardiff final, their first under Wenger.