Adebayor must continue to work hard or risk becoming a 'nobody', says Arsenal boss Wenger

The big African, 24, has this season gone some way to filling the boots of legendary forward Thierry Henry, who hit the personal milestone for five seasons in a row from 2001/02.

However, despite finding the net for an impressive streak of nine consecutive games earlier in the campaign, Adebayor lost his magic touch as the Gunners bid for Barclays Premier League and European glory faded.

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Wenger is in no doubt there is more to come from the frontman, but only if his strict "work ethic" continues.

"Emmanuel took his tally to 30 for the season with a hat-trick at Derby, but there is some room for him to improve - and that makes me very positive," said the Arsenal manager.

"I believe he has to keep a good working attitude. We have seen players before, when they start getting the recognition, they ease off in their team work, and very quickly they die.

"I believe if Ade keeps his work ethic, there is still 20 per cent more to come from him. Does he want it enough - to get this extra 20 per cent out? Well that is where his future lies. If you lose that desire, you quickly become a nobody."

Wenger continued: "He was never prolific at Monaco, but he has worked hard for it at Arsenal and it highlights that our offensive game favours the strikers. You will never starve as a striker at Arsenal - you get the quality balls to work with. Ade will be the first to agree with that."

Despite a rather flat ending to a campaign which had promised so much, Wenger - whose side last won the title in 2004 - maintains there is genuine hope silverware can be delivered next year.

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"I believe our quality of the season overall has been absolutely outstanding, but because we have ended up without any trophies, people are naturally very negative," he said.

"We have to take a distance from that, and say that we have produced quality and we have produced consistency. We know we need to improve our killer instinct, but keep believing in this team because it is very special."

Wenger, meanwhile, continues to conduct his transfer business in private, but did reveal after Sunday's 1-0 win over Everton he always had "options" in mind should things not go to plan over keeping hold of his own men.

Lille's Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun and £12million-rated Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa are said to be on Wenger's summer shopping list, while veteran Gennaro Gattuso, of Milan, is another linked with a move to north London.

However, one former Gunner who is not likely to be returning 'home' is Henry, despite a season of relative underachievement at Barcelona.

"As for my future, no, I do not want to leave," Henry told Le Parisien.