Maybe Emmanuel Adebayor wasn’t so daft when he put pen to paper on a new, improved contract with the Arsenal. Putting aside Arsene Wenger’s heartrending plea that big Ade has made sacrifices to stay at the Arse, perhaps all the Togolese striker did was to have a shifty at the Arsenal players who have left the club in recent years. And see how their careers have stagnated.

Put aside the aging Jens Lehmann and Gilberto and you have to think that by mid-season both Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb may be having doubts about their wisdom in jumping ship. The Arsenal way isn’t often copied and rarely bettered as many a player has found. They may well earn more dosh but things may not be so rosy on the pitch.

Take David Livermore. Who? Released by the Arse back in 1999 he spent seven years with Millwall - even featuring in their Cup Final run of a few years back.

The centre back left Millwall to join a fading Leeds United where he spent a measly ten days. He impressed everyone as a good, honest pro which translates into English as ‘he just ain’t good enough.’

He moved to Hull City, spent some time on loan with Oldham and was promptly released once the Tigers achieved their first ever promotion to the top flight. He was later snapped up by Brighton.

Steve Sidwell was well rated by the coaching staff at Arsenal but he sought regular football. He got that at Reading but then decided it was all too much like hard work and he moved to Chelsea to top up his bank account. Now he has enough in the bank to ease him through the credit crunch he has decided it’s time to start playing again so moved to Aston Villa.

Graham Stack is still only 26, a mere novice in goal keeping terms. But in his career so far he has yet to muster 50 league games for Arsenal, Reading, Millwall, Leeds, Wolves and Plymouth.

In the six years since Richard Wright won the Premier League with Arsenal he has seen his career turn a full circle. After one season he moved to Everton, went to Upton Park (a well known graveyard for aging Arsenal boys) where he never played a game and is now back at his first club, Ipswich where he was considered an England international.

Arturo Lupoli? Italian goal machine, he spent some time with Derby before Arsene sent him back to Italy with Fiorentina. Now he’s back in England with Norwich City! And we won’t even mention another Arsenal lad who spent time with the Canaries in 2004/05. Suffice to say that lot from up the road have more money than sense and I’m sure Fizsman and co were overjoyed at the cut the club received.

There have been plenty of other players who have slipped down the leagues with the grace of a centipede in roller blades and as for ex-Arsenal players plying their trade in Germany… maybe later.

Jakarta Casual writes a blog on Premier League matters. It can be read here