How to get some respect..

Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin sang about it, and somebody known as 'your elders' are always wanting it. Yep, there is nothing like a bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I haven't managed to sort out access to Emmanuel Adebayor's iPod just yet but i'd like to think he has been listening to it on repeat a lot lately, because it seems like Manu is in a bit of withdrawal.

Despite the bemusing incident with the Nicklas Bendtner last week, the big lad has somehow managed to knock in 4 goals in his last 3 appearances pushing his tally up to 17 goals for the season. Yet despite all this, in a season where we really needed someone to step up and take over the goal scoring responsibility from Henry, I can find nobody in the media suggesting Adebayor should be up for consideration for the Football Writers Player Of The Year award. I assume that Ronaldo, Fabregas, Drogba and Torres will feature in the shortlist at the end of the year, when, aside from the horrible winkin' Portuguese ball of hair gel, the other three haven't really got anything to match the performances Adebayor has put in this season.

Whilst trying not to vomit whilst writing this, regardless of how much I hate him, Christiano Ronaldo has been exceptional this season. Yet Manu has matched him goal for goal this season - they have now opened up a huge 5 goal gap to the next nearest top scorer, Pompey's frankly ordinary Benjani. Both are playing for teams tied at the top of the league, both have scored critical goals throughout the season. Despite both of these players being separated by just a year in age it is only Ronaldo who is discussed in the media as player who is still young and maybe hasn't yet reached his full potential.

Yet, I continue to read articles that claim Gooners are yet to be convinced by the big man. Nowhere have I read that he should at least be considered for one of the end of season awards. I am not sure, if at 23, he is able to qualify for the Young Player Of The Year Award, but I for one firmly believe that it is about time Manu got some damn respect! At times he can look awkward, certainly he has had his dips in form, but to be the tied top scorer at this stage is a phenomenal effort considering he has often been the only recognised striker with Van Persie requiring new legs to be stitched on every few games.

But that is just the thing about this years Arsenal team, Fabregas aside, there are no 'star' names in the mould of Rooney, Torres, Drogba or Gerrard. Alex Hlebkamp continues to prove he is the best dribbler in the league, yet is fairly anonymous in the media for a key player in a table topping side. Bacary Sagna has been one of the outstanding buys of the season, every time I see him play I assume he has been playing in the side since 1984 alongside Viv Anderson and Kenny Samson such is the way he has taken to the role. And no player gets on with his business in a quieter manner, and gains as little plaudits as Mathieu Flamini. Perhaps on the team bus, Manu lent over to him and started up a brief conversation:

'Here, have a listen to my new Aretha Franklin greatest hits collection? See, she understands how you can work hard and just want some respect when you get home. Sock it to me Flamster'

Of course Flamini took this to heart and will now score 30 yard screamers every week - or so I'm told by Arsene. But of course the only true way any of this team is going to get some proper respect is to go on and win something. If we play like we did against Newcastle every week, I think you can book the first lady of soul to perform at the Emirates come May.

By Paul Wright