24 April,2010 06:56 AM IST | | AFP
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.
Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor
Wenger, who brought Togo forward Adebayor to England from French club Monaco in 2006, said yesterday: "I am stubborn, but not stupidu00a0-- 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 Toureu00a0-- we will welcome them all back.
"We have always had the same line of conductu00a0-- 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.
