Wenger urges Arsenal fans fans to ease off Adebayor

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told Gunners’ players and fans to avoid targeting Emmanuel Adebayor when the club’s former striker returns to the Emirates with Manchester City on Saturday.

Adebayor, who joined Arsenal’s Premier League rivals before the start of this season in a 25 million pounds move, was in involved in controversy when playing for City against the Gunners in September at Eastlands.

He received a three-match ban for raking his studs down the face of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie following a misguided goal celebration – which led to a suspended two-game ban and a 25,000 pounds fine from the Football Association – when he raced the length of the field to slide in front of Gunners’ fans.

Wenger, who brought Togo forward Adebayor to England from French club Monaco in 2006, said on Friday: “I am stubborn, but not stupid – sometimes in the heat of the moment you can do things that are not right.

“It is not only Adebayor, but also Patrick Vieira and Kolo Toure – we will welcome them all back.

“We have always had the same line of conduct – to respect what they have done for us and we want our fans to respect that as well and encourage our team,” the Frenchman added.

“No matter what happened in the first game, it is important that we have a positive attitude and encourage our players.

“I believe more than ever tomorrow (Saturday) we will need the crowd to be behind us. I expect everybody to behave well.”

Arsenal’s hopes of remaining in contention for the Premier League title this season appeared to have been extinguished when they managed to throw away a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes away to Wigan on Sunday in a match they ultimately lost 3-2.

That left the north London club six points behind capital rivals and leaders Chelsea with just a maximum of nine left to play for in their three remaining league games.

“Our pride is to fight until the end and this season we have shown a lot of fighting spirit, even if we had two disappointing results,” Wenger added.

“It is important that we keep fighting, because you never know – and also we are as well under threat from the people chasing from behind. Nothing is secure,” insisted Wenger, whose side are currently third in the table.

First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s wrist injury means Wenger is again set to start with Lukasz Fabianksi despite the Pole making the latest in a series of high-profile errors this season, which have included mistakes against Porto in the Champions League and Stoke in the FA Cup, against Wigan.

However, Wenger said of Fabianksi: “I think he will be a great keeper.

“If you ask how many mistakes you can afford, I would say zero, but also it is part of the game.

“I believe Fabianski has great quality and spirit. He has a good opportunity to show how good he is,” said Wenger, who has been linked with a post-season move for England’s Joe Hart, currently on loan at Birmingham.

“Of course, he was disappointed on Sunday, but I believe he was not the only one involved in our defeat.”