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Adebayor sure of Arsenal's spirit

Emmanuel Adebayor insists Arsenal FC "have the mental strength" to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, despite a draw with Liverpool FC.

Emmanuel Adebayor still believes Arsenal will prevail
Emmanuel Adebayor still believes Arsenal will prevail ©Getty Images

Arsenal FC striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists his side can prove their doubters wrong and qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool FC on Wednesday.

Gunners belief

Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead in the quarter-final first leg tie with a 23rd-minute header, but the Gunners were pegged back by Dirk Kuyt's reply minutes later and now face a daunting return at Anfield in six days time. However, Adebayor believes Arsenal can take strength from their victory away to AC Milan in the previous round and repeat that feat against their Premier League rivals.

'Mental strength'
"We had a lot of chances but we couldn't take them," he said. "Liverpool defended very well and they played good football so now we are going to try to win there. People said we would never win in Milan and we did it, so we will just keep on doing what we do best and we are sure we can do something there. It's going to be very difficult at Anfield because they have a good team and they defend very well, but as players we just have to keep our confidence high. We have the quality and we know we have the mental strength to come back and win at Anfield.

'Pass and movement'
"I think a lot of people have ruled us out in their minds and we just have to show them they are wrong. I think we did that quite well against Milan and now we will have to do that again against Liverpool. It will be very tough but we just have to believe in ourselves, keep on going, keep on playing our football. If we play our football like we know how to play - passing and movement - we have a lot of chances to put them under pressure."

'Fresher'
The goal was Adebayor's 24th of the season, but just his second in ten matches. He started as a substitute for Saturday's victory at Bolton Wanderers FC and admitted he was glad for the rest ahead of a critical stage of the season; Arsenal meet Liverpool at home again in the Premier League on Saturday before travelling to Anfield for Tuesday's second leg. "I'm here to play as much as I can, but as a human being if you are given a break you have to take it. I play with heart and as you could see today I was a little bit fresher and now physically I'm very good."