I hate Arsenal because of the way manager treated me - I had no choice but to leave

One player who represented both sides of north London still maintains hate for one of his former clubs

Crossing the north London rivalry rarely leaves reputations unscathed, and Emmanuel Adebayor's story proves no exception.

The striker made his name at Arsenal before eventually representing Tottenham, with a controversial stint at Manchester City sandwiched between. Whilst his three-and-a-half year spell in north London is generally considered the pinnacle of his playing days, the ex-Togolese international has confessed to "hating" Arsenal, pointing to the bitter nature of his 2009 exit.

Mere weeks after completing a £25million switch to City, Adebayor found the net in a crucial 4-2 triumph at the Etihad Stadium, before memorably charging the full length of the pitch to goad the travelling Arsenal supporters.

Speaking openly in 2018, he discussed his enduring "hate" for the Gunners and continued bitterness towards former boss Arsene Wenger, insisting he felt forced out against his wishes. He said: "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. 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'.

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"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."

Reflecting on what was running through his mind during that infamous goal celebration against Arsenal, Adebayor explained: "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 joined Arsenal from AS Monaco in 2006 as an unpolished but exciting prospect. Initially, first-team chances were restricted with established forwards like Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie blocking his path.

However, the Togolese striker eventually broke through, netting 62 times across 142 matches for the north London club — most notably delivering an impressive 30-goal haul during the 2007/08 season. His time at Man City proved briefer and less productive.

Following just one campaign as a first-team regular, he lost his standing after Roberto Mancini's appointment as manager, with the Italian favouring Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko up front. Halfway through the 2010/11 campaign, Adebayor moved to Real Madrid on a temporary basis before securing another loan switch to Tottenham for the 2011/12 season.

Having ended the term as Spurs' leading marksman with 17 goals across 33 Premier League matches, the transfer became permanent in a £5m transaction. He would subsequently net 42 times in 113 appearances for Tottenham before moving to Crystal Palace in 2015, having been displaced by emerging forward Harry Kane.

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Adebayor remains amongst just four players to have turned out for both Arsenal and Tottenham during the Premier League era —alongside William Gallas, David Bentley and Rohan Ricketts — highlighting the lasting animosity of north London's most intense rivalry.

The two sides clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in what will mark Igor Tudor's maiden fixture as interim Spurs manager. Arsenal will be eager to claim maximum points to consolidate their position at the summit while doing the double over their neighbours. Tottenham will be seeking to extend the narrow margin separating them from the drop zone.