Arsenal old boy Thierry Henry slates Emmanuel Adebayor for lack of respect

Thierry Henry has slated Emmanuel Adebayor for showing a lack of respect to the manager, club and fans who made him a star.

Arsenal legend Henry has entered the debate about Adebayor’s performance for Manchester City against the Gunners last weekend in brutal style.

Henry, now at Barcelona, spent eight years as Arsenal’s scoring superstar. He said: “You have to remember, no matter where you end up, the people who helped make you along the way and gave you the chance.

“I won the treble with Barcelona last year, but I know if it wasn’t for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal I would not be the player I am today.

“I think the same has to be true of Adebayor. He might be one of the world’s top strikers today, but he wasn’t before Arsene got hold of him and gave him that chance.

“When he came from Monaco he wasn’t even getting games back in France and then within two seasons he was a player who was wanted by a lot of top clubs in Europe.

“Arsene puts a lot of investment in you when he sees talent and I don’t think it would hurt for Adebayor to show him, the club and the fans a little more respect.”

Adebayor has been suspended for three games for the kick he inflicted on Robin van Persie’s head. He will miss today's Manchester derby and he has also been accused by Cesc Fabregas of launching a “red card” challenge on the Spanish midfielder.

Adebayor faces further FA action for the 95-yard sprint he made to celebrate in front of the visiting fans after his goal in City’s 4-1 win.

The Togo striker’s war with the Arsenal fans astonishes Henry, who last year was voted by supporters as the Gunners’ greatest player of all time.

That award came the year after he moved to Barca and Henry said: “The fans at Arsenal were great. They were and always will be my family. I never saw them behave badly so to react like they did at the weekend shows just how angry and upset they were.

“They will show you love and respect, but like any relationship they will ask for that love and respect back.

“No matter what Adebayor’s emotions were, he could have earned himself a lot of respect by not celebrating the goal.

“That would have shown real class, and that to be honest is what most players choose to do when they score against their old clubs. I don’t really understand why he didn’t do that.”

Tottenham fans will claim Henry has a short memory. They will recall he ran the length of the Highbury pitch to celebrate in front of them after a wonder goal against Spurs in 2002.

Adebayor has claimed that, while he may have angered fans by discussing potential transfers over the past two seasons, the ultimate key to his £25million move to Manchester was Wenger’s desire to cash in on him.

Arsenal insiders insist Adebayor was a transfer waiting to happen and that eventually it was best for everyone that he headed out.

Henry added: “Arsenal fans have nothing to worry about. Arsenal can’t spend like the other big clubs in the Premier League but when they have somebody with the brain of Arsene they don’t need to.

“He is building something very special there.

“I know the fans want trophies and I understand that, but if they have a little more patience they will come.”