Arsenal, Wenger: Adebayor can serve

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has denied claims he is unhappy with the prospect of Emmanuel Adebayor playing for Togo this weekend. The 25-year-old has been out since the start of February with a hamstring injury and was not scheduled to back in action for the Gunners until after the international break.

“Adebayor has gone away with Togo. Will he play or not? He will have tests. For us, he was ready to play,” Wenger said. “Ideally it is good for us and for him to have a game. There is no problem. I had a meeting with their manager and we knew he would be ready for this weekend, whether it was for us or for Togo.”

Adebayor is more than comfortable with the situation. “It is not an issue at all,” the striker told BBC Sport. “My boss Arsene Wenger gave me the permission to come here to play for my country and if I did not have his blessing I would not be here.”