The Adebayor Cliche Collection

Really, all you Arsenal guys out there who will jump to my throat after seeing the headline, I mean no offence. But read the big man's comments, they serve as a classic example to why the Sky-era created a predictable media world.

'The most important thing was to do a good job and win the game - but to be back at the top is great as well,' he said.

'It is very important going into the international break. It gives us a lot of confidence.

'We wanted to stay ahead of Manchester and show them we are strong - and we have done that.

'Of course, it is a long title race - and it's where you are at the end of the season that matters. But we are very happy with how things are going.'

Long race, good to be top, important was to win. Hardly a classic Ron Atkinson or Brian Clough comment. And I don't mean to show disrespect toward Adebayor. It's not his fault - this is what is expected of him.

An average Alan Hansem column consists of stating that X team are good while Y team also have a good chance of being good. Z team, on the other hand, have a little bit of a problem at the moment though they are good enough to get out of the trouble.

The time of controversial comments have gone. Twenty years before Fergie's attack on Arsenal after the game at the Emirates wouldn't have provoked such a reaction - after all, it was very far from the 'visiting teams often choke in their vomit after refereeing decisions at Anfield' style he had once possessed.

Today you are bound to tell the reporter that you feel good and though it was a good performance the season is very long and your rivals are also good. When someone says he thinks the other team are weak in some aspect, the papers say 'controversy!'. It's a bit dull, really. Many people suggest English football is dull but no - Sky, BBC and co. are dull. And it has an effect on our own mood.

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