No Time For Sentiment As Tony Adams Returns To Arsenal

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Tony Adams became a Gunners legend during his time at the North London giants, making 504 appearances and winning four league titles and three FA Cups.  

On Sunday, though, all that will be forgotten as he looks to bring to an end a run of three consecutive Premier League defeats for the South Coast side.   

Pompey’s 4-1 loss to West Ham on Boxing Day was a hard blow for Adams to take and has added to the pressure to get something from the visit to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.   

Despite admitting he is looking forward to the encounter, Adams knows that his side are going to have to tighten things up at the back having leaked 14 goals in their last six outings.  

"We've been trying to win football games and getting done on counter-attacks and Arsenal are probably the best team in the country at counter-attacking," he said.

"So that's going to be very difficult for us and resources are low. We need to put things right quickly. It's never easy going there. You've got to play them at some stage and in some ways maybe it's the perfect place to go.

"I worked at Arsenal for a long, long time and enjoyed every minute of it and I'm delighted and honoured that the fans respect me so much. I love that so much."

He added, "But I'm working for another club at the moment and trying to win a football game so that's the context and perspective of it.

"Arsene's got a great squad there and I wouldn't mind a few of his players. They're a fantastic football club and they'll get a lot of points at the Emirates.

"We're going to have to fight to get a result. The other teams that have gone there have really fought for every tackle, every header, every challenge and that's what you need to do."

Mathew Burt, Goal.com