Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor says the constant criticism he received from Arsenal fans last season held him back, and that he hopes his debut goal at Blackburn on Saturday will help keep the Man. City fans on his side.

The Togolese international needed just three minutes to open his City account on the opening day of the new campaign.

And the former Monaco man insists that his new-found popularity will help ensure he repeats Saturday’s showing more often, adding that the vitriol he was subjected to from the Arsenal supporters towards the end of his Gunners tenure meant he was never able to perform to his capabilities.

“As a footballer, when you know that the club and the fans are behind you, it makes you want to give 100 percent, and that is what happened on Saturday,” he told The Manchester Evening News.

“It was very difficult for me at Arsenal. When I got the ball and tried to score a goal, even at home, the fans were still booing. That is something you cannot imagine”.

“Now I am happy to be at a club where everyone loves me. The criticism I got at Arsenal was unfair. Clubs like AC Milan and Barcelona were in for me, but the fans could not understand why that happened.”

I don’t know if they think I am a poor player, but the important thing for me was to change clubs. That is all behind me now, I achieved a lot of things there and my record is not bad at all.

“In my three years there I learned a lot, but now I am a City player, and that is where my focus lies. When I have the fans behind me I will always give 100 percent.”

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