Adebayor: Money is paramount

Arsene Wenger's side have endured another frustrating season at the Emirates Stadium in 2008/09, compounded in the last week by emphatic home defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea.

They have now completed four campaigns without picking up a trophy since their 2005 FA Cup triumph at the Millennium Stadium.

The 25-year-old may have scored 16 goals in 37 appearances in 2008/09, but former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon told The Times on Tuesday that he felt the Togolese front-man did not possess the right attitude and should move on this summer.

And it may now be a view shared by the majority of the North London outfit's support, after it was revealed the former Monaco striker left Africa to play in Europe to boost his bank balance.

Asked last summer by BBC Africa Sport's editor, Farayi Mungazi: ‘How important is money to footballers? A lot of them say it is not about the money. Is that true?’ Adebayor replied, as reported by the Daily Mail:

“It is not true, it is about money.

“When we are young, of course we played because we loved the game, we play because we were passionate about the game.

“But now as soon as you reach a stage where you are professional and playing Champions League, after all those things we are talking about money.

“If it is not because of money, what am I going to be playing for Arsenal for? If it is not because of money I don't think I would go to Arsenal to play. I would stay in my country, I would stay in Lome where everyone loves me.

“If it is not because of money, I would not have come to Europe.”

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Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.