CESC FABREGAS last night led a scathing Arsenal backlash on former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor.

Speaking for the first time about Adebayor's antics during last weekend's defeat at Manchester City, the Arsenal skipper lifted his tracksuit bottom to reveal a nasty three-inch gash across his right calf.

That was the result of an X-rated Adebayor tackle and, pointing to the wound just above the ankle, Fabregas said: "I think this is a red card here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was from Adebayor."

The £25million City striker's shameful kick in Robin van Persie's face marred the match and earned him a three-game ban.

SCARRED ... Cesc Fabregas' right leg looks a mess

SCARRED ... Cesc Fabregas' right leg looks a mess

But his tackle on Fabregas could have left the midfielder with a broken ankle and Fabregas, 22, was keen to make the point.

He added: "I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened. You know this is football and it can happen. Well... it's not football but it can happen."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger blasted Adebayor's behaviour but Fabregas' gesture revealed the level of resentment towards their one-time team-mate.

Fabregas added: "All I tried to do when he was at Arsenal was to create opportunities for him to score.

"So I think I didn't do too badly for him. I don't know. It is a bit strange. We don't think about him any more. He doesn't play for Arsenal so we just have to concentrate on our game and our players."

Adebayor, who quit the Emirates in bitter fashion this summer, is also facing a further ban from the FA after running the full length of the pitch to celebrate his goal - City's third in the 4-2 win - in front of the angry Arsenal fans.

It sparked a furious reaction from the away supporters and was heavily criticised in many quarters.

Fabregas said: "No, there's never been another player who left and behaved like this.

"I have no idea why he did this. We always respected him, you know. It is difficult. He will have his own opinions. You have to ask him that. I don't really know."

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The Arsenal star also refused to be drawn on speculation Adebayor, 25, had become isolated in the Arsenal dressing room.

And he insisted: "Let's just move forward. If this is true or not it just stays in the dressing room."

Even Emmanuel Eboue, a close pal of Adebayor, rounded on his fellow African star.

Last season, Togo striker Adebayor put a consoling arm around the shoulder of a tearful Eboue when the Ivory Coast ace was subbed against Wigan after a section of disgruntled Arsenal fans booed the defender.

Now, in the week when Wigan visit the Emirates again, Eboue did not mince his words about his pal.

He said: "Adebayor didn't do well and that is no good for football because you have a lot of young people who watch the game.

"But I am happy because the FA gave him a three-game ban. I know him and he will think about what has happened and will take it on.I am very disappointed about it, very disappointed."

Eboue has not spoken to Adebayor since last Saturday and may never speak to him again unless the City man calls to offer his apologies.

Former Gunner Kolo Toure, who followed Adebayor to Eastlands, felt compelled to go to the Arsenal dressing room and apologise.

Eboue added: "I haven't spoken to him since Saturday because I am very disappointed in him, it was a bad thing to do.

"In the dressing room, we were very disappointed because we don't know what happened to Adebayor.

"When he was in our team, we were together, we did everything together and so we don't know what happened.

"Kolo came into our dressing room and he said sorry to everyone and that was very nice.

"If Adebayor calls me, I'll speak with him. If he calls me, I'll say, 'Thank you, God.'

"If he doesn't call me, that's his problem. I think about my team."

Thursday, 01 October 09, 08:59 AM · arses (906)

Today Arsene Wenger becomes Arsenal's longest serving manager ever. 13+ years in the job he has gone past George Allison who is, I suppose, his Cliff Bastin to Wenger's Thierry Henry (I'm not forgetting Ian Wright, btw!).

A younger Arsene WengerHe joined an Arsenal team which had been somewhat in the doldrums, although improving under Bruce Rioch, and essentially revolutionised the place. New training ideas which prolonged the careers of great players, a new style of play, top players, we all know what he's done, what he's won and what he's brought to Arsenal Football Club.

We're in a new stadium because of him, we've consistently competed in the Champions League because of him, we've attracted great players because of him, and while this is certainly his most important season yet, his contribution to the club has been immense. Any 13 year relationship has its ups and downs but in this modern era it's becoming more and more rare that any football fan will know how that feels, especially in the top flight. Look at Chelsea's 5 managers in the last couple of years, even success is not enough to guarantee your job these days.

It helps though. Arsene is under pressure like never before to deliver this season. He's put his faith in a group of young players and they're keen to repay that. Gael Clichy says:

In football you always want to be the best and win trophies. So when you don't have the results everyone wants, people start to talk. In the last few years we haven't won anything so people talk badly about him.

But I believe we have to think about what he has done for the club. I really hope this year will be a good one for him and the fans.

Captain Cesc Fabregas says:

He has been the most important influence in my short career. He took me here, made me train with the first-team when I was 16 years old - I was training alongside Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira so I was lucky to learn from the big players.

For me it was a very big step forward. The manager took the risk to put me in the team. I have to thank him for that and now I have to pay him back for what he has done for me.

I'm sure the same sentiments are true for many of the current crop of Arsenal players. I don't think any manager has ever put such an amount of faith in a group of players, unwilling to spend money so as not to hinder their development, clearly his plan is to create a team that grows up together and can mature and win trophies. It's a long term plan in a world in which you are judged on the very short term. One weekend you're title contenders, the next you're useless.

There was a telling quote last season when Arsene said something along the lines of:

I've never worked so hard and been criticised so much.

Yet his belief in what he's doing appears unshakeable. He is convinced he can win things with this group of players. He's done it with more experienced squads. Where we have Diaby, he had Vieira. Where he has Denilson he had Gilberto or Petit or Edu. Where we have Almunia, he had Seaman. Where there is now Bendtner, there was Bergkamp. He's not blind to the differences, he can't be, but as much as ever I'm sure he wants to win things with Arsenal and now it's down the to players. He's given some of them the chance of a footballing lifetime, they need to deliver.

I know some of those comparisons are unfair but I don't mean it to highlight the weaknesses of the current squad, more to remind ourselves of how incredible that Invincibles squad was. We had some of the best players in the world at the very peak of their careers. Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires - right up there with some of the best players of all time, playing at Arsenal in the same team. It's almost impossible to replicate something like that without spending Real Madrid style money and Arsene knows that. Everyone knows that, in fairness. He's gone down a different route (and how interesting is it to compare the continued failure of that squad in the Champions League with the relative success the newer squad has had in the same competition?).

Whatever frustrations and reservations any of us might have about the boss though I have to say I still love the man. He provides an intelligence, wit and morality in the game that is rare. Sure, he doesn't see the odd incident but he speaks with such erudition about our club, about the game of football, that it is always a pleasure to listen to him (except when he talks about money!).

Let's face it, the world of football and football management is chock-a-block with spivs, chancers, spoofers, blackguards, muppets, barely formed single cell organisms, Sam Allardyce and far worse. I'm proud that we have Arsene Wenger representing Arsenal Football Club. I can't say 'Here's to another 13 years', because that's far too long in football, but I can say 'Thanks, Arsene, and here's to more trophies'.

Because despite worries there's nothing I'd like more than for Arsene to lead this team to the title again or to the Champions League for the first time. Or both. That might be greedy though.

Anyway, cheers Arsene. I'll happily raise a glass to you.

October 10, 2009

Young goalkeeper Vito Mannone feels he has done everything possible to give manager Arsene Wenger a selection headache when the Arsenal squad return after the international break.

Vito Mannone, Andy Johnson

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Vito Mannone stood tall for Arsenal.

The 21-year-old Italian has stood in for Manuel Almunia since he was laid low by a chest infection, and produced a number of impressive displays - most notably keeping out the Fulham attack at Craven Cottage.

But with both Almunia and Poland international Lukas Fabianski - sidelined so far this season by a knee problem - set to be in contention when the Gunners resume against Birmingham at Emirates Stadium on October 17, Mannone could well find himself down the pecking order once again.

The former Atalanta goalkeeper - with his only other first-team appearance on the final day of last season against Stoke - intends to do all he can to stay in Wenger's thoughts.

"I am really happy with my five games,'' said Mannone in the Islington Gazette. "It was difficult at the beginning, but I have shown I can play. I have learned a huge amount. I can feel it inside myself how much I have learned and hope people can see I have improved too.

"I did my job and now it is up to the boss. I did what I had to do. I know I have a long way to go, but I will stay focused in training and improve and see what happens.''

As well as Fabianski's imminent return to fitness, Wenger also hopes France winger Samir Nasri will soon be available as his rehabilitation after a broken leg has gone well.