Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists he was forced out of Arsenal by manager Arsene Wenger.

The 25-year-old Togo international joined big-spending Manchester City last summer in a £25million deal - and was roundly criticised by many Gunners fans who believed he had engineered a move for the money.

Tensions were hardly eased when his former club visited Manchester earlier in the season when Adebayor got himself on the scoresheet and ran the length of the field to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.

He also caused controversy when he raked his studs down the face of ex-team-mate Robin Van Persie.

However Adebayor insists that Wenger advised him it would be best if he left the Emirates Stadium.

"I'm still very pleased that I decided to move to City," he told the Daily Mirror.

"I feel fresh and I'm really enjoying myself on the pitch at the moment. People here have treated me well and that was not happening at Arsenal.

"If I had stayed there, I don't think I would have even played. Arsene Wenger didn't actually say that in so many words, but we did have a good discussion.

"Basically, I was told that I must leave, even though I didn't want to. He said they had come to an agreement with Manchester City and that it would be best for me to go.

"I had to leave because I must play games, because there is nothing better in the whole world than playing regularly."

Adebayor has since apologised for the stamp on Van Persie, for which he received a three-game ban, but his relationship with Arsenal supporters will take longer to heal.

The forward is yet to score since the clash with Arsenal in September, and City have stuttered badly in the league having drawn their last five matches.

"There is no panic at the club," he pointed out. "This is a long-term project. We have a chance to nurture this team and make it one of the best in the world.

"That's why we bought players like Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure and myself. We've combined with the quality players already here and we feel we can make this club successful.

"Certainly a top four spot is still the aim this season - why not? At the moment you can see that the Big Four are struggling a little bit. Liverpool and Manchester United in particular are finding things tough. So this is the year, everything is open.

"I wasn't surprised that I started so well because I'm a good striker who's here to score goals. I know I have the ability to do that. Last season at Arsenal I was tired as I had been playing with lots of injuries. This campaign is like a fresh start for me."