Adebayor acrobatics give Arsenal the edge

A brilliant acrobatic equaliser by Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal here on Tuesday.

Spain's Euro 2008 victor Marcos Senna had put Villarreal into a 10th minute lead with an unstoppable swerving shot but Adebayor levelled on 65 minutes with his fourth Champions League goal and it was one to remember.

The Togo striker controlled a superb pass from Cesc Fabregas on his chest before volleying home with an acrobatic scissors kick.

The away goal makes Arsenal favourites for the tie going into the return leg at their Emirates Stadium on April 15.

However, the joy at getting the away goal will have been tempered by the news that first choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia faces perhaps three weeks out with an ankle injury and France international defender William Gallas faces a lengthy absence after suffering a medial ligament injury.

Adebayor was delighted to have made an impact after returning from injury.

"I wanted to do something good," he said.

"I am very pleased and very happy.

"I don't really know how I scored. We are delighted.

"Of course the injuries in the first half to Almunia and Gallas didn't help our rhythm but Villarreal played really well, especially Senna and we came back well in the second-half."

Senna said that despite conceding the away goal Villarreal had far from given up hope.

"They are the favourites now because they have the away goal and home advantage for the next game," said Senna.

"However, we won't be throwing in the towel and believe we can win at Arsenal."

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said his side deserved to win and that Arsenal were only slight favourites to progress.

"I think overall we did more than Arsenal. They had a good period of 20 minutes in the second half but we were superior in the first half and in the closing stages of the match," said Pellegrini.

"In theory they have a slight advantage but I still think the tie is 50-50."

Adebayor and Fabregas were rusty after returning from injury but coach Arsene Wenger decided to start both.

The winner of this tie will face Manchester United or FC Porto in the semi-finals of the competition.



AP/Ron Edmonds

Prices, review, pictures

Prices, review, pictures

Listings provided by Cars.com