Exclusive: Time For Arsenal To Cash In On Adebayor - Tony Cascarino

Former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino - now a New Football Pools pundit - tells Goal.com why he thinks Arsenal should sell Emmanuel Adebayor.

Mar 28, 2009 7:01:38 AM

Tony Cascarino, Ireland, Nancy, Chelsea - New Football Pools

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Tony Cascarino is a pundit for the New Football Pools who gives his views to Goal.com readers on the London-based Premier League clubs....

There's no doubting Andrey Arshavin's impact at Arsenal, but Emmanuel Adebayor has tended to coast through this season, and the Gunners are doing well without him now as he recovers from injury. So with fresh interest in the striker from would be buyers, New Football Pools pundit Tony Cascarino thinks perhaps it's the right time for Arsene Wenger to cash in on his Togolese asset. He told Goal.com:

"Arsenal are ending the season strongly with new signing Andrey Arshavin playing his part. I had no doubts he’d be a success with the club as the way they play completely suits the lad’s game. Players like Arshavin need options in terms of passes to impress and Arsenal are one of the best teams in the business in that respect.

"One of the main factors in Arsenal’s resurgence is the return to form of Kolo Toure. The defender seemed to have lost his way and looked to be on his way out of the club but weirdly, since announcing that he and his centre-half partner William Gallas don’t like each other, they’ve both done really well.

"With the season nearing its end, once again Emmanuel Adebayor is being linked with moves away from the Emirates. This season the Togolese striker has just not turned up and looks the perfect example of a player who thinks he has made it and has lost his hunger as a result. Don’t get me wrong, the big hitman is as good as anybody when he has fire in his belly. His performance at White Hart Lane last season when the Spurs defenders couldn’t live with him showed just how good he can be. Unfortunately he hasn’t shown the same desire all season. It would seem getting his new £80,000 contract in the summer has led to the lad resting on his laurels rather than fighting to show he’s worth the cash.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsene Wenger decides to cash in on Adebayor in the summer for £20million or something and brings in a new big powerful striker for a fraction of the cost."

Roy Hodgson's Amazing Job At Fulham

Cascarino is full of admiration for the way Roy Hodgson has turned Fulham's fortunes around. He told us:

"If Roy Hodgson doesn’t win the Manager of the Year title this season then he should be pretty close to it. What Roy has done at the club is quite amazing when you consider how close they were to relegation last season. He’s made them a very solid outfit and although they are quite predictable in the way they line up, a number of teams have struggled to handle them.

"Bobby Zamora has received plenty of stick for his lack of goals but he does a good job for the side. The simple question is, are Fulham better with or without Bobby in the side? And the answer is, definitely when he’s in the side. Just like Emile Heskey when he was at Wigan, he didn’t score that regularly but the job he did benefited the side. I am sure his manager is more than happy with the job Zamora does for the side in terms of being disciplined and working hard when his team haven’t got the ball.

"Roy got a lot of criticism for selling Jimmy Bullard in January but the fact that the team doesn’t seem to have missed him at all is testament to his decision to sell. The club got a good fee for a relatively old player and unfortunately for Jimmy soon after his move he has suffered yet another bad injury. Managers have to make unpopular decisions and I don’t think anyone will argue with the sale now or the superb job Roy has done at Fulham."

Tony Cascarino for Goal.com

Tony Cascarino is a pundit for the New Football Pools. To challenge Tony's prediction prowess or hear his weekly football podcast - or to play Footy 15, Premier 10 or any other of the Football Pools games on offer - visit www.footballpools.com.

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