Arsenal fans brand their former hero a 'disgrace'

Although much of the focus of supporters' behaviour centred on a Gunners fan who is thought to have thrown a stewards' chair at Adebayor as he celebrated scoring City's third goal, the home crowd were today accused of throwing coins and plastic bottles into the visitors' section.

Adebayor became a hate figure at Arsenal after flirting with a big- money move last summer before finally joining Manchester City for £25million earlier this summer and REDaction spokesman Mark Brindle said: "He's gone too far. As much as he protested his innocence, we all know how he courted a move to Barcelona or AC Milan and only stayed for the money so it was always going to be a volatile occasion.

"He had one good season at Arsenal and although he had a lot of support last season, there was an increasing section who saw how lazy he was becoming.

"What he did was a disgrace and I am sure even though he apologised, the Manchester City press office got to him and told him that's what he should do. Whether he meant it or not, I don't know.

"The only reason he left was for the money. There was no loyalty from him and all he has done is cement his hatred among the fans.

"City fans used to sing racist songs about Adebayor and I have been told some of their actions on Saturday were questionable to say the least."

One Arsenal supporter at the match, Mickey Polston, who has followed the club home and away since 1973, claimed City fans were also to blame for the unsavoury atmosphere in the stadium.

He said: "When Adebayor scored, the City fans were throwing bottles and coins at us. A couple of stewards' seats were thrown at Adebayor from the Arsenal end and the whole situation got out of hand as there were women and children who were at the front of the away end who were left crying after being crushed." Adebayor defended himself by insisting he acted on impulse and as much as manager Mark Hughes may protest his new signing is "an emotional boy", Saturday afternoon was littered with examples of anticipation of the occasion.

Adebayor greeted Arsenal club staff in the tunnel before kick-off but was said to be "brimming with nervous energy" while repeatedly glancing towards the away dressing room.

It is understood he arrived at the ground hours before the game began and could be seen warming up on the pitch alongside a member of City's coaching staff long before his team-mates were on the pitch.

After a series of heavy challenges - the first of which came from Nicklas Bendtner with only six minutes played - Adebayor waited to kick off the second half by exchanging passes with Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Although the pair worked well in tandem in their days at Emirates Stadium, Fabregas merely poked the ball back to Adebayor, who instead played the ball to a more receptive Alex Song.

It was noticeable that Adebayor's pre-match interview he claimed "it will be funny playing against players who I see like brothers such as Song, [Gael] Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue" as it was these three players who were among the first to embrace him at the final whistle.

William Gallas also made a point of shaking hands but Robin van Persie stormed towards the tunnel and any apology Adebayor claims to have made did not take place on the pitch.

By contrast, Kolo Toure, another former Gunner, waited patiently in the tunnel as Arsene Wenger fulfilled his media commitments before the pair shared a hearty handshake and a short conversation in which the Arsenal manager asked how life had changed for him at City. There was no sign of Adebayor.

Polston added: "Adebayor's actions were very irresponsible on his part and the anger towards him comes from how motivated he is by money.

"If he had sprinted in an Arsenal shirt as fast as he did to celebrate in front of us on Saturday, I doubt anyone would have criticised him in the first place."