Few footballers cross north London without damaging their reputation on one side or the other, and Emmanuel Adebayor is no exception. The former forward made his name at Arsenal before subsequently representing Tottenham, with a controversial stint at Manchester City sandwiched in between.

Whilst his three-and-a-half years at the Emirates Stadium are generally considered the finest chapter of his career, the Togolese striker has confessed he “hates” Arsenal, pointing to the bitter circumstances surrounding his 2009 exit. Just weeks after his £25million transfer to City, Adebayor netted the winning goal in a 4-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium before notoriously racing the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal supporters.

In 2018, he spoke openly about his “hate” for Arsenal and his enduring bitterness towards former boss Arsene Wenger, alleging he felt forced out of the club. “I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger in his office when he told me I had to leave because he doesn’t see my future any more in Arsenal. I have to move on in my life,” Adebayor said.

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“I was like ‘I’m going to stay.’ He was like ‘no there is not even a fight organised. We are not going to organise any fight for you. You move out or you stay here and don’t play any games.’

“So I didn’t have any other choice than joining Man City which I was very happy to join. And the next day when I joined Manchester City I saw him doing a press conference in London saying that I wanted to leave because the money was big and everything, and since that day that is where the hate for Arsenal came from.

“Not the fans because the fans are the first English fans to sing my name in London. Even today when I watch them play I want them to win but at the same time I want them to lose because the anger in me is too big.”

When questioned about what was running through his mind during his controversial goal celebration against Arsenal, Adebayor responded: “A prisoner is out. A prisoner is free.”

He continued: “I play for the club for three and a half years. They bought me for three or four million, they sold me for 27m, and they are still calling me names. They are still telling me I leave for money.

“You bought me for £3m, I still have five years’ contract and you let me go for £20m more and you are telling me I am the one leaving for money and you are abusing me.”

Adebayor signed for Arsenal from AS Monaco in 2006 as a raw but gifted prospect. With established forwards such as Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie positioned above him in the hierarchy, first-team chances were initially scarce.

However, Adebayor fought his way into contention, eventually netting 62 goals in 142 appearances for the Gunners – including an impressive 30-goal haul during the 2007/08 season. His stint at City proved briefer and less successful.

Following just one campaign as a first-choice player, he lost favour after manager Roberto Mancini’s appointment, who favoured Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko up front.

Halfway through the 2010/11 campaign, Adebayor joined Real Madrid on loan before arranging another temporary switch to Tottenham for the 2011/12 season.

Having ended as Spurs’ leading marksman with 17 goals in 33 Premier League matches, the transfer became permanent in a £5m deal. He would subsequently net 42 goals in 113 appearances for Tottenham before departing for Crystal Palace in 2015, having surrendered his position to emerging striker Harry Kane.

Adebayor remains one of only four players to have represented both Arsenal and Tottenham in the Premier League era – alongside William Gallas, David Bentley and Rohan Ricketts – highlighting the lasting hostility of North London’s most intense rivalry.

The two sides meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in what will be Igor Tudor’s first match as interim Spurs manager. Arsenal will be eager to claim all three points to consolidate their position at the top of the table, while Tottenham are looking to increase their gap to the relegation zone.