Arsene Wenger hopes Emmanuel Adebayor is treated with respect when he returns to Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The former Gunner is now a Tottenham player, and has been in fine form since his reintegration into their team last month.
Wenger is well-aware of the Togolese striker’s quality, and says he could prove to be a dangerous opponent for his side in their FA Cup third-round clash.
"I don’t want him to get stick, I just want us to play well. I always say the same thing: when players come back to the club you want them to be respected"
Arsene Wenger
“When I signed him he was playing in the reserves at Monaco,” the boss said. “He had a huge impact and, with Thierry Henry, he was such a success that when Thierry left for Barcelona, we felt it was okay, Adebayor can take over.
“He scored over 30 goals in the first season. Only he can say whether he regrets leaving.
“I don’t want him to get stick, I just want us to play well. I always say the same thing: when players come back to the club you want them to be respected.”
Tottenham will head into Saturday’s game in good form after the appointment of Tim Sherwood as manager, and Wenger accepts it will be a major challenge.
“They've always had good teams and good players since I've been here,” he said. “But we've always just been a bit more than them.
“[Sherwood] knows the young players well and will know well who can make it at the top level or not.”
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