Defoe going nowhere, says Pompey boss Adams

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams has denied England striker Jermain Defoe is about to leave the club.

Speaking following his side's 1-0 defeat away to Arsenal on Sunday, former Gunners captain Adams insisted reports that a “massive offer” for the 26-year-old had been made were inaccurate.

“Speculate all you want but we have had no offers from Jermain Defoe – not one,” he said.

The claim had been made by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who had signed Defoe from Spurs 11 months ago when he was in charge of Portsmouth.

Defoe was relegated to the bench at the Emirates Stadium and played only the final three minutes of a game decided by William Gallas's 81st-minute header.

Adams insisted the decision had been purely tactical, the ex-England centre-half's attempting to frustrate his former employers with a five-man midfield and just Peter Crouch up front.

“I thought we had done enough to get something out of the game, like at Liverpool in my first game in charge,” Adams said. “We played the same kind of system and were 12 minutes away from getting something on that occasion.

“Jermain was really annoyed at me for leaving him out and he's still angry with me now. I didn't want that any other way to be honest. It was tactical, exactly like at Liverpool.

“He may have a point as he can turn round and tell me 'you've got it wrong boss because you lost' but it's not easy being a manager. You have to make difficult decisions.

“I'm determined to hold on to all of my players but, on the other hand, I want people who want to play for Portsmouth. And no-one has come to see me.

“No-one wants away so I'm encouraged. Not with the results but with the way they are performing,” added Adams, whose side are just three points above the drop zone.

The result lifted Arsenal into fourth place above Aston Villa on goals scored, although the Midlands side will reclaim that position if they avoid defeat at Hull on Tuesday.

Gallas headed home the winner after Portsmouth goalkeeper David James failed to connect with a punch as he came to meet a free-kick from Brazil midfielder Denilson.

Victory ended a run of three draws for Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger insisted his side had been unfairly criticised in recent weeks, especially after conceding a last-minute equaliser in Friday's 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

“I feel that no team since I have been here has received so much bad publicity and I don't think that is fair,” he said.

“I want them to do well because they have shown great character and are working extremely hard.

“They are the team that needs support the most because they are the youngest I have ever had here,” the Frenchman added.

“When we played at Villa on Friday, if you look at what came out after the game it was as though we had been completely disastrous. We drew 2-2 and were closer to winning than losing. We could be proud of our performances.

“Okay, Villa came back in the last minute but that could happen to anybody.

“It was important to get the three points today (Sunday) because no matter what we have done recently we have always been swimming against bad headlines.

“We were intelligent, mature, didn't make mistakes and in the end we won the game against a Portsmouth side who defended very deeply and very well.”

Crouch headed Portsmouth's only clear chance against a post in the 23rd minute but Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor will be wondering how he failed to convert two excellent chances either side of the break.

Portsmouth look set to be without midfielders Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes in the coming weeks.

Diop suffered damaged medial knee ligaments and had to be carried off on a stretcher in stoppage-time while Hughes suffered a groin injury.