Champions League - Adebayor out of Roma clash

Eurosport - Mon, 09 Mar 21:33:00 2009

Arsene Wenger has admitted Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss Arsenal's Champions League tie with Roma on Wednesday but the Gunners manager hopes Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure will be fit.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Arsenal Adebayor - 0

Adebayor has been sidelined for a month after suffering a hamstring injury in the goalless Premier League draw with Tottenham and will not travel to Italy for the last 16 second leg clash as Arsenal try to hold onto their one-goal lead.

Although Toure missed Sunday's FA Cup victory over Burnley with a minor injury, Wenger believes he has a good chance of recovering in time.

"Adebayor definitely won't be able to play, but I will wait to see what the report is on Kolo before I decide what my starting XI will be," Wenger said.

Despite Adebayor's absence, Wenger will have more attacking options after Eduardo and Theo Walcott played against Burnley.

Eduardo marked his return from a hamstring injury with a superb goal, while England winger Walcott played the last 20 minutes in his first appearance since shoulder surgery in November.

Walcott admits he is not fit enough to start yet, but he hopes to make an impact from the substitutes bench in the Stadio Olympico.

"I need a few more training sessions, a few more games coming off the bench and hopefully if I am doing well the boss will put me in," Walcott said.

"I am just looking forward to another experience in Italy. In Arsenal training, you obviously dont want to injure your own players so you tend to be a little softer but matchdays are totally different.

"I still haven't experienced getting clattered yet so that's the next test but our new doctor has come from a rugby background. He has dealt with two dislocated shoulders a year and he said, touch wood, I'll be OK."

With Walcott and Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas set to return by the start of April, Arsenal are approaching full strength again at a crucial stage of the season.

The Gunners are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they face Hull for the right to play Chelsea in the last four, and are only three points behind Aston Villa in the battle for a top four finish in the Premier League.

"I believe everyone at this club is a big player but the more there are in the squad it boosts the fans which is very important. As soon as we have got these players back, hopefully we will be flying," he said.

"We haven't really lost that many games, we have just drawn a few. I am going to try and give something back to the team and try and push for those Champions League spots.

"We are not going to get too ahead of ourselves. But if we play football like we did against Burnley we can beat anyone."

Captain Francesco Totti should be able play even though his knee still hurts after an injury.

"Francesco will try and train with (the rest of) the squad tomorrow, even though he'll feel pain," Vito Scala, Totti's personal fitness coach, said.

"It's normal to feel pain at this stage. I'm optimistic because I know Francesco and I'm sure he'll grit his teeth and take to the field on Wednesday."

But right-back Cicinho will miss the clash in Rome with a knee injury.

The attack-minded wide defender came on as a substitute in the 1-1 weekend draw with Udinese and picked up the problem, which looks set to end his season.

AFP

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  1. laszlofiam you are completely wrong in my opinion.­ Adebayor's heart is not in Arsenal football club.­ He and his agent tried to engineer last summer a move­ away from Arsenal to Barcalona or AC Milan. My theory­ is that it did not happen because Wenger blocked the­ move, why I here you all ask ? Well Eduardo was on the­ long term injury and the only well established strikers­ were Van Pursie, Bendtner and Adebayor, Vela I felt­ is'nt quite ready for regular football just yet but­ is heading in the right direction.
    Wenger was not going­ to let Adeybayor leave while Eduardo wasnt ready. This­ situation may well change this summer now Eddy is back.­ Bendtner has turned out to be more effective than­ Adebayor this season and RVP and Eduardo are on a­ completely different level to him while vela is showing­ great natural strikers instincts. Adebayor is a­ manufactored striker, no natural ability, he is just­ reasonably good at most things but not great at any.­ The only real good thing he's got is his strength­ and ability to hold a ball up but Emile Heskey is good­ at that and what gooner ever wanted him at Arsenal???­ just as I thought, none.
    He's already dropping the­ feelers out for next season by saying Barca and Milan­ wanted him last year and that moment he kissed the­ Arsenal badge at the start of the season when he scored­ was an insult to all Gooners in my opinion. He had one­ good season and tried to walk away from this club.­ Sorry Adebayor mate but you never pulled the wool over­ my eyes, your welcome to leave.

    From tony439, on Tue 10 Mar 7:06PM

  2. laszlofiam you are completely wrong in my opinion.­ Adebayor's heart is not in Arsenal football club.­ He and his agent tried to engineer last summer a move­ away from Arsenal to Barcalona or AC Milan. My theory­ is that it did not happen because Wenger blocked the­ move, why I here you all ask ? Well Eduardo was on the­ long term injury and the only well established strikers­ were Van Pursie, Bendtner and Adebayor, Vela I felt­ is'nt quite ready for regular football just yet but­ is heading in the right direction.
    Wenger was not going­ to let Adeybayor leave while Eduardo wasnt ready. This­ situation may well change this summer now Eddy is back.­ Bendtner has turned out to be more effective the­ Adebayor this season and RVP and Eduardo are on a­ completely different level to him while vela is showing­ great natural strikers instincts. Adebayor is a­ manufactored striker, no natual ability, he is just­ reasonably good at most things but not great at any.­ The only real good thing he's got is his strength­ and ability to hold a ball up but Emile Heskey is good­ at that and what gooner ever wanted him at Arsenal???­ just as I thought, none.
    He's already dropping to­ feelers out for next season by saying Barca and Milan­ wanted him last year and that moment he kissed the­ Arsenal badge at the start of the season when he scored­ was an insult to all Gooners in my opinion. He had one­ good season and tried to walk away from this club.­ Sorry Adebaoyr mate but you never pulled the wool over­ my eyes, your welcome to leave.

    From tony439, on Tue 10 Mar 7:03PM

  3. what happened to you men??one of our best striker is­ Adebayor...even with foot and with head..
    i dont­ understand you
    we need him!
    if he will go away in the­ summer it will be a big blow....

    From Laszlo, on Tue 10 Mar 3:25PM

  4. So what if he's out..not like he's been there 4­ arsenal when they needed him..hope he pushes off 2­ milan in the summer!

    Go on u gunners!

    From davidmickdee, on Tue 10 Mar 12:19PM

  5. c'mon arsenal!!!!

    From tactiqal, on Tue 10 Mar 9:10AM

  6. Ref 17 What season was that! He is no loss and i would­ not pay him in washers Grimsby need a new player!
    Ref­ 12 .19 and 24 Totally agree.
    Adebayour has an over­ inflated opinion of what he thinks he is !He is like a­ tub of jelly in front of goal .He is not Premier leauge­ material He was cheap and it shows Id Arsene can get­ 8-10 mill for that donkey he is best rid

    From pnikev2000, on Tue 10 Mar 8:49AM

  7. Ade reminds me of Oliver Bierhoff.....his legs were­ only made for walking!

    From al.barney, on Tue 10 Mar 7:35AM

  8. Adebayor out? Good riddance! AW should flog him this­ summer as he is not satisfied with his wages despite­ his poor performance this season. My cousin almost gave­ him whack at Lagos Airport.

    From al.barney, on Tue 10 Mar 7:32AM

  9. Despite Ade is out,Arsenal have the great potential­ with there recent form from the last 2 games they­ played to reach the CL Final with style and definately­ go away with the Cup,it is just they lack a little bit­ concentration in the attacking midfielders they parade­ since the absence of Capt Frabregas,i believe the­ effort of Nasri,Diaby,Denilson and Walcot will make a­ way for the next round before all Injured players come­ back to state.UP GUNNERS TILL WE DIE...surely a cup­ will come our way this season...

    From Matola, on Tue 10 Mar 7:00AM

  10. Despite Ade is out,Arsenal have the great potential­ with there recent form from the last 2 games they­ played to reach the CL Final with style and definitely­ go away with the Cup,it is just they lack a little bit­ concentration in the attacking midfielders they parade­ since the absence of Capt Frabregas,i believe the­ effort of Nasri,Diaby,Denilson and Walcot will make a­ way for the next round before all Injured players come­ back to state.UP GUNNERS TILL WE DIE...surely a cup­ will come our way this season...

    From Matola, on Tue 10 Mar 6:57AM

  11. For now, it's quite apparent that Arsenal has a­ shot at winning both the FA Cup & the Champions­ League although no one would have thought of that 1­ month ago. Imagine what it'd be like if Arsenal is­ the team that stops Man United from winning 5 trophies­ this season!

    From jabronibeater, on Tue 10 Mar 1:53AM

  12. Arsenal fan but this is the best news i hava had all­ season. Now edwardo and RVP can start scoring goals.­ bendtner can sit easy and vela ccan come in later.

    From paul, on Tue 10 Mar 12:53AM

  13. Dreaded the answer to your question lyes in post number­ 15. Basically thats it to a tee. The guy is good, and i­ would like him to stay but not unless he realises he­ has to work for a living. He's lazy and he has been­ exposed for his laziness this season. He hasnt even­ touched on being on a goal scoring run. he never got­ out the starting blocks this season and frankly up­ until last season the story was the same. Ade has had­ one..yes ONE good season, the rest have been distinctly­ average. I believe he has got it, but he needs to work­ to make it come regular.

    From Tom, on Tue 10 Mar 12:17AM

  14. 3. if we make the finals and win, i know one man who­ won't be very happy about that. Thierry Henry!!!­ You should've stayed with us mate.

    From Neo, on Mon 9 Mar 11:22PM

  15. Why such critisism of Adebayor? He's suffered from­ injuries this season, otherwise he's a 30-goal a­ season striker. How many of those do have in­ premiership? And he gives Arsenal attacking options­ being tall, strong and skilled with his feet.

    From Seth, on Mon 9 Mar 10:39PM

  16. c.ome on arsenal you can do this

    From DUNCAN, on Mon 9 Mar 10:36PM

  17. ade got his payrise but is not paying us back.Go in the­ summer please

    From john, on Mon 9 Mar 10:31PM

  18. Ade WHO? Thank God he is not available for selection.­ He needs to go back to basics and learn the­ striker's instinct to score goals. A target man­ that doesn't score goals or have many assists for­ that matter is a liability to any team.

    From sanchez.santos, on Mon 9 Mar 10:19PM

  19. roma has a lot of injury problems for arsenal to worry­ about one. i am sure arsenal is coming out on top.

    From Falohun G, on Mon 9 Mar 9:57PM

  20. Ade not being available? no loss. until he pulls his­ socks up and realises he has to fight to find form then­ he's always gonna be a bit of a 50/50 man. He has­ sheer class, but mentally he just aint there right now,­ so lets start with Eduardo and VP.

    From Tom, on Mon 9 Mar 9:32PM
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