Adebayor, who joined City from Arsenal 15 years ago today, scored our third goal in the 4-2 victory over the Gunners in only his fourth game for the club, confidently heading home a pinpoint cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
It’s a moment in Etihad history that will forever be remembered for the striker’s high-spirited reaction as he ran the full length of the pitch to revel in front of the fans of the club he’d just left.
Richards, who scored the first that day, has spoken about the aftermath of Adebayor’s memorable goal, his fourth in succession since joining the Blues.
“Before the game, he was just normal. I know people have asked if he had said anything before the game but he had his headphones on, chilling, listening to music as he does, dancing, he was a real character in the dressing room,” Richards told listeners on his ‘Rest is Football’ podcast.
“During the game, the Arsenal fans were giving Adebayor the biggest amount of abuse I have heard at the Etihad since I played there. I’m not exaggerating. It was madness.
“So I thought ‘if Adebayor scores here, it’s going to be carnage, the Arsenal fans are going to run on to the field’.
“Next moment, the ball was on the right-hand side and Shaun Wright-Phillips put in a beautifully caressed, whipped ball and Adebayor leaped to head home.
“I’m thinking ‘oh’. The Arsenal fans were behind me. I was playing right-back and they were behind me. He was in front of me. He scored the goal and I heard the Arsenal fans going absolutely crazy.
“Then next minute, I saw Adebayor galloping like a horse towards me, head back and everything.
“I thought he was coming to me so I put my arms out and he just brushed me aside and went all the way to the Arsenal fans and celebrated right in of them. It was carnage.
“The Arsenal fans were fuming. Obviously, it was that pent-up frustration from both sides.
“But he apologised in his interview afterwards and I was like ‘you don’t do all that and then apologise, what was the whole point of it?’
“After the game there was nothing and he didn’t mention it again. I think everything just came out in that moment.”
