Beyonce-loving striker shows some loyalty a day too late

Emmanuel Adebayor has today told Arsenal’s official website that he owes the club for making him a star and won’t be going anywhere this summer.

However, The Spoiler can’t help but feel the Togolese striker has done things in the wrong order - choosing to declare his love for AC Milan again yesterday on the eve of arguably the biggest game of his Arsenal career and then vowing to stay at the Emirates after it has all gone wrong.

The master of the mixed message said:

“Arsenal put me where I am today. They made me one of the biggest strikers in the world. I have to pay them back.

“How am I going to pay them back? Make them win trophies.

Arsenal/Villarreal, Champions Lge QF L2, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 3

Arsenal’s biggest worry tonight is how their defence will cope without Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas and Johan Djourou. It is with that in mind that we have decided to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation from the first leg, ensuring that the patched-up back four are adequately supported:

Emmanuel Adebayor was isolated at times in Spain but with Villarreal needing to commit bodies forward, there should be more space for Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott to exploit, while Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner will be ready to do damage off the bench if the visitors score.

Do you agree with our formation or do you think Arsenal should start with two strikers? Let us know who you would pick with a comment below.

Yesterday Stan Collymore commented on a Spoiler story and requested a response. Here it is:

Dear Stan,

First, thanks for writing.

Second, The Spoiler very much enjoys your work on talkSPORT, although if you could occasionally let callers finish their remarks before reaching for the megaphone, you would be an even better broadcaster.

Third, the hat-trick you scored for Leicester against Sunderland was one of the finest three-goal efforts ever assembled, and one I’m not sure Sunderland have ever recovered from. Leicester certainly haven’t.

But that’s enough flattery. Let’s move on to your observations.

Just a small point, but you’re wrong about this being an anonymous blog. Every post has the name of the poster beneath it, right underneath all those mysterious hieroglyphics and after the date the story was posted. Furthermore, if you go to the very bottom of the site and click on “About Us” you can also see the names and contact details for the names of the people who run the site.

As for “The notion that you cannot be man of the match because one misses several chances is probably the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard,” well, where to begin? In your Mirror column you didn’t call Bendtner man of the match but “Hero of the weekend,” a weekend on which Steven Gerrard orchestrated an historic evisceration of Man United. Even within the Arsenal game, you would struggle to find anyone to agree that Bendtner played better than Arshavin. The Spoiler probably also suspects that if you took a moment to reflect, you’d have to admit that you have heard more ludicrous things before.

The Spoiler agrees that you

No it’s not Emmanuel Adebayor, it’s this man…

Stan Collymore has started a one man mission to convince the world that Nicklas Bendtner is going to become a top quality striker.

Anyone who tuned in to talkSPORT on Saturday evening will have heard the former Liverpool striker condemn the nasty Arsenal fans for a barracking that never actually took place. Indeed The Spoiler’s booing expert watched the game in eager anticipation of some top quality jeering and was left disappointed as the majority of supporters instead got behind the Dane after every miss, chanting “Super Nicklas Bendtner”.

The controversial pundit wasn’t prepared to end his campaign there though and today named the striker “Hero of the Weekend”

Gunners’ figures defy the crunch, but how much longer will their financial health last?

On the day that Mike Ashley has been forced to plough £10m of his own cash into Newcastle to cover operating costs, Arsenal have announced that their profits have risen £4.5m to £24.5m before tax for the six months ending 30 November 2008.

Matchday revenue and broadcasting revenue both increased (by £.3m and £4.5m respectively), and problems shifting the properties on the old Highbury are not as drastic as previously reported; the 186 apartments are valued at £76.7m, and they had already sold £58.1m by November 2008.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood told the BBC:

“Clearly there are some significant challenges ahead of us, both on and off the pitch, over the closing months of this financial year and beyond.

“The UK property market has been particularly affected by the economic downturn and, inevitably, this has had an impact on the group’s own property development activities.”

While these figures represent a picture of fiscal health, the Arsenal board must be mighty concerned by their reliance on Champions League money. According to Simon Chadwick, a professor in sport business strategy and marketing, English clubs have made an average of £34.39m from reaching the knockout stages of this year’s competition, and the eventual winner will make up to £98.69m.

Arsenal recorded a net debt of £318.1 million for the year ending 30 May 2008, including £250.2 million borrowed for building the Emirates Stadium (part of a 23-year loan at a fixed interest rate).

If the club fail to clinch fourth spot in the Premier League, thier delicate financial model could start to crumble.

Arsenal/Liverpool, 4pm Sunday, Sky Spts 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

They might be nowhere near the top of the table that matters - the Premier League table - but Arsenal lead Liverpool on goals scored in the Big Four head-to-head standings after both beat Manchester United and Chelsea. Our friends at chickendinner are convinced Arsene Wenger’s side will again ruin a rival’s title prospects and have produced six reasons why this will happen:

1. Liverpool have won just one of their last four Premier League games and that was against struggling Blackburn, They have also been beaten on their last two trips to North London by Tottenham.

2. The league leaders have won just three of their last thirteen away games in the capital.

Champions League, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free £10 bet 

Our brothers and sisters over at chickendinner are not just content with predicting an Arsenal victory tonight, they have gone one further and fixed their eyes on the Emirates’ scoreboard, foreseeing a 3-1 victory. Here’s why Hull’s bitches will bounce back:

1. While Porto have never lost at home to a British team in the Champions League, they have drawn one and lost nine of their ten away games there.

2. And that includes their meeting trip to North London two years ago when Arsenal saw them off 2-0 with goals from Barcelona Henry and Hleb.

3. Arsenal won all three home group games last season, scoring twelve goals.

4. Arsene Wenger’s side have only lost no more than one home game in three of the last four seasons.