Adebayor acrobatics give Arsenal the tie

A brilliant acrobatic equaliser by Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal here on Tuesday.

Spain’s Euro 2008 victor Marcos Senna had put Villarreal into a 10th minute lead with an unstoppable swerving shot but Adebayor levelled on 65 minutes with his fourth Champions League goal and it was one to remember.

The Togo striker controlled a superb pass from Cesc Fabregas on his chest before volleying home with an acrobatic scissors kick.

The away goal makes Arsenal favourites for the tie going into the return leg at their Emirates Stadium on April 15.

Adebayor was delighted to have made an impact after returning from injury.

“I wanted to do something good,” he said.

“I am very pleased and very happy.

“I don’t really know how I scored. We are delighted.

“Of course the injuries in the first half (to goalkeeper Manuel Almunia anmd William Gallas) didn’t help our rhythm but Villarreal played really well, especially Senna and we came back well in the second-half.”

Adebayor and Fabregas were rusty after returning from injury but coach Arsene Wenger decided to start both.

Even with Santi Cazorla injured, Arsenal old boy Robert Pires – who spent six successful seasons at the club under Wenger – had to be content with a place on the Villarreal substitutes bench.

Pires, now 35, was in the Arsenal side that defeated Villarreal 1-0 in the 2006 Champions League semi-finals, giving the hosts extra motivation to eliminate Arsenal this time around.

In the opening minutes the visitors’ Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia seemed to be struggling with an ankle knock after landing awkwardly and Villarreal almost took advantage of his poor mobility.

Joan Capdevila leapt highest to get his header on target only for Gael Clichy to clear the danger from the goal-line.

But Senna then produced a moment of genuine class in the 10th minute with a swerving right-footed shot that fizzed past Almunia.

Arsenal responded and Samir Nasri tested Diego Lopez after being fed by Fabregas who perhaps would have been better off shooting himself.

At the other end of the pitch Almunia finally gave up in the 28th minute as his ankle continued to hurt – and was later said to be out for a couple of weeks – and the untested Pole Lukasz Fabianski, 23, was thrust into the biggest game of his life.

Fabianski was quickly called into action to stop a Senna drive and then a follow up effort from Capdevila.

Arsenal’s injury woes continued with experienced French centre-back William Gallas forced off before the interval with what was later diagnosed as a medial ligament injury with Johan Djourou taking his place.

Fabregas curled in a free-kick on the chime of half-time but was booked for taking it without the referee’s permission.

Arsenal took hold of the game in the second half and got a deserved equaliser on 65 minutes with Adebayor chesting a Fabregas pass on his chest before firing in a spectacular bicycle kick.

England international Theo Walcott went close for Arsenal, firing over from outside the area while Senna almost scored another screamer from long range.

Villarreal maintain their unbeaten record at home in the Champions League – four wins and seven draws – but will be annoyed at not having built on Senna’s opener.

The winner of this tie will face Manchester United or FC Porto in the semi-finals of the competition.