Emmanuel Adebayor’s most iconic moment as a footballer for Man City, or perhaps ever, took place 12 years ago today and Gunners fans still haven’t got over it.
The Togo striker signed for City in a £25m move back in 2009, leaving Arsenal after a stellar season as he wanted to challenge for trophies. Arsenal fans understandably weren’t happy about it, declaring him a glory hunter and a money-grabber.
Adebayor stayed respectful until the day of the game, when Arsenal travelled to the Etihad Stadium early on in the campaign with both sides hopeful of making a push for the title with some luck.
City ran out 4-2 winners on the day, dominant throughout thanks to goals from Micah Richards, Craig Bellamy, Adebayor and Shaun Wright-Phillips, cancelling out strikes from Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky.
But what followed was something that even 12 years on gets Arsenal fans angry and rival fans laughing at them. Adebayor ran the length of the Etihad pitch all the way to the away end and did a knee slide in front of furious Arsenal supporters. He stayed there, on his knees with arms outstretched as the supporters who loved him just months earlier hurled abuse and objects at him in anger.
12 years on, City are looking for a fourth domestic title in five years now under Pep Guardiola while Arsenal are further away from a title than they’ve been at any point since. Fans reacted to the anniversary of the iconic moment on social media with City fans declaring it one of the best in Premier League history, while Arsenal fans re-lived their anger.
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