City tell Adebayor to keep cool on Arsenal return

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been told to keep a cool head when he makes his return to the Emirates Stadium to face his former club Arsenal on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, who joined City last year, has previously accused Arsenal fans of using him as a scapegoat for their failure to land a trophy since 2005 under Arsene Wenger, who signed the former Togo international from Monaco.

Adebayor then caused even more controversy when playing against his old team last September as he scored a header then sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of Arsenal’s travelling fans.

He also received a three-match suspension for kicking Robin van Persie during the victory and is sure to get a hostile reception from the Gunners’ fans.

City manager Roberto Mancini knows he can’t afford to have Adebayor distracted as his side chase fourth place in the Premier League and he wants his targetman to stay firmly focused on his performance.

“I remember that game because I watched it on TV,” said Mancini, who replaced Mark Hughes mid-way through the season.

“I don’t know why it happened but it is important Emmanuel only concentrates on Manchester City on Saturday. It is important there is no repeat of those situations.”

City defender Kolo Toure, who also moved from Arsenal to Eastlands at the end of last season, is confident Adebayor can control his emotions.

“The game against them last September was really difficult for him but he needs to show more intelligence because we all know that what he did was not the best reaction – and as a friend I’ve told him that,” Toure said.

“I’ve told him he must be calm and not do anything. Ade is a professional player and must just focus on the game and give everything to help the team win.”

If Adebayor provides an entriguing sub-plot to the Premier League match, the main storyline concerns City’s need for a victory that will maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Last weekend they dropped into fifth position, behind Tottenham, after the stoppage-time defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United, while Harry Redknapp’s side earned maximum points against Chelsea.

Mancini has confirmed defender Micah Richards could be involved in the Arsenal trip after a four-match absence with a knee injury.

Wenger’s men can mathematically still finish above Chelsea and Manchester United, but their title hopes were effectively over when they surrendered a 2-0 lead against Wigan to lose 3-2 on Sunday.

However, Arsenal winger Andrey Arshavin has called for his team-mates to finish the season strongly against City, Blackburn and Fulham.

“Hopefully we will win the last three games,” he said. “This season has been tough, tight, sometimes it was even difficult for me and my team but in general it was not bad.”

Arsenal will be hoping van Persie can finally start after the Dutch forward made substitute appearances in the defeats against Tottenham and Wigan following his return from a serious ankle injury.

“Unfortunately it (van Persie’s return) is slightly too late to win a trophy,” Arshavin added.

“He had a big impact last season and he has done well before his injury, so he is showing his quality.

“It would be easier for us (if we had not had the injuries). I cannot say we would be champions but it would be easier for us.”

Arshavin himself is recovering from a calf injury, while Arsenal will be without skipper Cesc Fabregas after the Spain midfielder suffered a crack in his right fibula during the Champions League clash against Barcelona.