By Matt Davis
Tottenham Hotspur forward Emmanuel Adebayor is determined to help his team-mates maintain their four-point advantage over north London rivals Arsenal, as he claims that beating the Gunners in the overall Premier League standings this season would prove he was right to leave them.
The striker left Arsenal in 2009 for Manchester City, but after failing to make a lasting impression at the Etihad, joined Spurs last season on loan before completing a permanent deal in the summer.
Adebayor told The Telegraph: “Everyone knows there’s a big rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs.
“When I was at Arsenal, my job was to score goals for them. Now I’m at Tottenham and I have to help the team finish in the top four.
“We have a big chance this season to finish on top of them and we have to take it.
“Last season at the last game of a tough race, you know what happened. We don’t want to commit the same mistake. For me it’s a big chance to show people I was right to leave Arsenal, which means finishing on top of them. If that’s with Tottenham even better.”
The two clubs clash at White Hart Lane on 3 March, when Adebayor can expect the visiting Arsenal supporters to give him a typically hostile reception. However, he revealed that he doesn’t get distracted by boos and taunts from the fans.
He added: “I’ve seen people dying in front of me. So 30,000 people abusing me, I take it as a joke, part of life.”
Adebayor will also be looking to make amends for his performance in the first north London derby of the season, when – after putting Spurs ahead in the 10th minute – he committed a rash foul, was promptly red-carded, and saw his team lose 5-2 to the hosts for the second year running.
