Posted by By Antony Kastrinakis on
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has promised Arsenal fans he will be the new Kanu.
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has promised Arsenal fans he will be the new Kanu.
Sport of the World told you first last July that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was targeting the 21-year-old Togo ace.
And in his first exclusive interview since switching to Highbury from Monaco in a £7million deal, Adebayor vowed to be as good as Nigeria ace Kanu.
Adebayor said: "I am so happy to be joining Arsenal. I am confident I will establish myself in the team and follow in the footsteps of my idol Kanu.
"He's a player who has left his mark on me and I hope very much to be the new Kanu for Arsenal. I am so happy and proud that a manager like Arsene Wenger chose me."
Wenger described Adebayor as ‘Kanu with pace' - likening the frontman to the Nigerian star who spent five seasons at Highbury and earned a place in its folklore with his silky skills.
Rebuffed
Adebayor, who has a record of a goal every three games for Metz and Monaco, became the second signing of the week for Wenger after Auxerre midfield star Abou Diaby - another Sport of the World tip.
And Adebayor confirmed Wenger has been following his progress for a long time, trying to get him last summer only to be rebuffed by then Monaco chief Didier Deschamps.
But Deschamps was recently sacked after a spate of bad results and Adebayor has found himself more and more on the bench under new boss Francesco Guidolin.
Arsenal fans will now have to wait a while before seeing their new ace in action.
After completing his move to Highbury, Adebayor flew out of the country to join up with Togo as they prepare for the African Nations Cup.
He added: "Arsenal came back in for me a fortnight ago. With the arrival at Monaco of the new coach, things changed and I was playing less and less.
"Now it's up to me to prove myself at Arsenal."