Retired Togo international striker, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has shot his mind back on time and remembered how a bout of high emotions made him celebrate in front of Arsenal’s fans after scoring against them.
The date was September 12th, 2009, the venue Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where he moved to from Arsenal only two months earlier.
He had just spent three glorious years at Arsenal, and many of The Gunners’ fans felt bitter about his departure from Emirates Stadium to join one of their biggest rivals in the English Premier League.
Unfortunately for them, Adebayor (fondly called Baby Kanu while at the London-based Gunners) was on a roll at Etihad, having scored in all previous three matches after joining The Citizens and he was determined to continue against his former club.
His big moment in history came in the 80th minute of the MatchDay 4 fixture, and he jumped high to nod home City’s third goal in a home game they eventually won 4-2.
A rush of emotions then followed, as he ran the whole length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the agonising away fans.
At that point, The Gunners’ supporters no longer cherished the fact that Adebayor had scored 62 goals in 142 matches for their team, as he was already an enemy on the opposing side.
Back then, Adebayor alleged that the visitors from London hurled racist slurs at him before the game, and he was determined to make them eat their words, but some of his former teammates accussed him of playing rough against them.
The FA promptly suspended him for three matches and fined him £25,000 for what still stands out as one of the most infamous goal celebrations ever in Premier League history.
Adebayor has now shut his mind back to that incident of 23 years ago, and stated that it was just a case of emotions that spilled over.
The lanky star, who was born to Nigerian parents in Togo and was named African Player Of The Year 2008, said he was excited about scoring against his former club, but admitted that his emotions boiled boiled over and he took his celebration too far.
He recalled, “All I saw was the ball in the air, and, before I even jumped, I was planning what I was going to do (with the ball).
“When I landed, the emotion took over for like one second. I didn’t know where (City’s) fans were anymore.
“I was feeling like a superhero. When I opened my eyes and spread my arms, all I could see was white.
“When I walked back to the pitch with Kolo Toure, I asked him what happened. I know that I had scored, but I did know what happened next.
“So, he told me that I went to celebrate in front of Arsenal fans, and they were not happy.”
Now that all wounds have healed several years after, Adebayor further stated his innocence and insisted he did not make that frantic celebration run with an intent to demean anyone.
“It was not premeditated, and it was not part of my programme. It was not planned at all.
“I just felt I should give something back (to my fans). We all have to give something.
“Fortunately for me, I scored that goal and emotion took control.
“From that moment, the emotions came and took control of me until the end of the game,” Adebayor concluded.
