Adebayor - I didn't want to leave last summer
Emmanuel Adebayor did NOT indicate he wanted to leave Arsenal in the summer.
A number of newspaper articles last year suggested that the Togolese striker was about to quit North London after two-and-a-half successful years in red and white.
Adebayor stayed and signed a new contract however, since then, he has maybe failed to hit the heights of the previous campaign when he vied with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Golden Boot. That said, he still averages a goal every other game and has seven Premier League assists – just three behind leader Robin van Persie.
His superb strike last week secured a vital draw in Villarreal. Ahead of the return leg at Emirates Stadium, the 24-year-old put to bed those stories from a year ago.
"I never said I would leave, people said that on my behalf,” he commented. “Today, I'm very happy at Arsenal and that is the reason why I stayed because I know with this team I can achieve things.
"I know we've had a difficult season in the Premier League, but we're still in the Champions League, still in the FA Cup and that's fantastic.
"We have to take the good points from that and enjoy ourselves to the end of the season.
"Yes, it's been difficult with all the problems - Hleb going to Barcelona, Mathieu Flamini going to Milan, everything was struggling a little bit, are we going to buy or not, myself going or staying.
“When I got my injury [in February] it was quite difficult too because at that time I wasn't hitting the net.
“But it's always good to go back [and] see what you have done well and what you have done bad. Taking a break made me feel good, allowed me to see my family which made me feel better. When I came back I knew I had two months to go until the end of the season.
“And I have to take a lot out of that. I must enjoy my games and help Arsenal to win things. That's why I signed for Arsenal and I think I am doing that quite well at the moment.
“The team have now got on a good roll, we are playing quite well and we enjoy playing together as a team. We are back in business, that is the most important thing.”
