Adebayor hits treble

EMMANUEL Adebayor made a compelling case for a start against his former club Arsenal on Sunday by firing Manchester City to a Europa League victory with his first Blues hat-trick.

The former Gunners star enjoyed a stormy appearance against the north Londoners last term, scoring, winning, but getting the Arsenal fans upset with his celebration, then picking up a three-match ban for an ill-advised tackle on Robin van Persie.

It has not been plain sailing for Adebayor since. But on this evidence he would relish an appearance against the club who collected £25m when he left to join City last year.

Adebayor’s show, aided by cameos from David Silva and Adam Johnson, was certainly too much for Lech Poznan and put City in line to tie up a place in the final 32 with plenty to spare.

Adebayor’s opener required an excellent piece of skill, which took him past Poznan skipper Bartosz Bosacki as he collected Patrick Vieira’s pass, before calmly stroking into the bottom corner.

For a man of such imposing size, it was a reminder of his golden touch, his first goal of the season.

Far more typical was the towering header he applied to David Silva’s well delivered cross, which arrowed into the same part of the goal.

Within four minutes of the re-start, when Joel Tshibamba struck to make it 2-1.

But to the clear frustration of coach Jacek Zielinski, he skied his effort over the bar.

It was the cue for Silva to deliver the pass of the night, curled delicately around the visitors’ back four, perfectly for Adebayor.

The striker had already failed to convert one excellent chance to complete his threetimer.

He was not about to do it again.