Arsenal chief determined to keep Adebayor at Emirates

ARSENAL chairman Peter Hill-Wood has claimed that the Gunners intend to keep Emmanuel Adebayor, despite Barcelona s offer of £30million for the striker. Hill-Wood made the claims as the Gunners returned to training this week, with manager Arsene Wenger un

ARSENAL chairman Peter Hill-Wood has claimed that the Gunners intend to keep Emmanuel Adebayor, despite Barcelona's offer of £30million for the striker.

Hill-Wood made the claims as the Gunners returned to training this week, with manager Arsene Wenger under pressure to deliver new signings and keep hold of Adebayor, who has demanded a massive salary increase or a transfer.

But the Arsenal chairman countered: "We want him to stay, definitely. Adebayor still has a long time left on his contract and we have absolutely no intention of releasing him from that contract.

"You want to keep your best players and Adebayor is one of those."

Adebayor, who scored 30 goals last season, signed a new contract this time last year that ties him to Arsenal until 2011, but has publicly demanded the club improve on his £35,000 a week wages.

"I'm afraid that's the way of the world," added Hill-Wood. "It's annoying but it is modern football. The idea that you are going to have a number of your team playing for you for 15 years, as one used to have, has disappeared.