Emmanuel Adebayor says Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph and Manchester City’s rise vindicate the work carried out during his time at both clubs.
The former Togo striker joined Arsenal from AS Monaco in January 2006 and scored 62 goals in 142 appearances during three-and-a-half seasons in north London. He later moved to Manchester City as they began their transformation into a major force in English football, before joining Real Madrid on loan for the second half of the 2010/11 season.
Adebayor did not win the Premier League or Champions League with either club, but Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the title in 2025/26 and City have established themselves among Europe’s elite.
“I went to Arsenal to be champions. I couldn’t make it happen. I went to Manchester City. We started the project of winning championships, winning the Champions League. We couldn’t make it happen. Those who follow us are making it happen now. We can only be happy for them,” Adebayor told Flashscore.
He believes Arsenal’s progress under Mikel Arteta has been based on a defined footballing identity and greater physical strength.
Arteta succeeded Unai Emery in 2019 and has reshaped the squad, with Gabriel and William Saliba becoming key figures in a powerful defence.
“Arteta took over from Arsene Wenger with his own mentality, with his own vision. He learned under Pep Guardiola. He wants certain things in a certain way. I’m not surprised that he brought some big guys at the back like Gabriel, Saliba. They are strong. They are big. They are physical,” Adebayor said.
The former striker believes that physical edge has helped Arsenal succeed in the Premier League, where technical quality alone is not enough.
“That is one thing Arsenal has added to its football that can definitely make them champions. If you want to be champions in England, you can play beautiful football as much as you want and you’ll never be champions. If you have some players that are ready to kick, that are ready to battle for you, then obviously you can be champions.”
Mourinho’s challenge at Real Madrid
Adebayor also discussed the difficulties of managing Real Madrid’s star-studded dressing room. During his 2011 loan spell, he played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain. The current squad includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
“When you have players like Mbappe, Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, it’s a problem of ego. Don’t get it twisted, they’re trying to show on TV that they have a good understanding but it doesn’t click every day,” he said.
“When you have Mbappe and when you have Vinicius, you are one of the best players in the world. It’s quite difficult to tell you what to do.”
Jose Mourinho returned as Real Madrid head coach for a second spell in June, more than a decade after his first tenure. Adebayor, who worked with the Portuguese at the club, remembers a manager prepared to confront senior players.
“I know Mourinho. He will stand on the table and tell them, ‘Either you do what I said, or you sit on the bench.’ I was playing with Higuain and Benzema and Ronaldo up front at the same time. We had the same kind of ego.”
However, Adebayor believes Mourinho’s authority is not what it was during his first spell.
“Mourinho came winning a lot of stuff already into the club. So his ego was bigger than all of us. Don’t get it twisted, Mourinho is my guy, but he has been struggling for the last five, six years.
“Coming back to Madrid, his power is not like before anymore. Mbappe will listen because it’s Mourinho, but he will not fully listen. When Mourinho was Mourinho, Mbappe was young... they don’t really know the personality of the person.”
Real Madrid have made an inconsistent start to the campaign and trail leaders Barcelona by six points after losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s derby.
Adebayor expects Mourinho to demand decisive action if he believes his control is being weakened.
“Knowing Mourinho, I’m pretty sure during this week he will go and see the president and tell him what he wants. When they come back from the national break, he will tell them, ‘Either it’s you guys or it’s me. Either I get sacked or I will sack you first.’”