Emmanuel Adebayor has taken aim at former club Arsenal.

Now playing in Turkey with İstanbul Başakşehir, Adebayor says Arsenal's problems in recent years is due to manager Arsene Wenger's commitment to youth.

The Togolese insists Arsenal can never compete against major clubs because of the lack of proven, battle hardened pros in Wenger's line-ups.

He told So Foot: "In the small games, talented players make a difference.

"But you do not beat teams like Manchester United by playing such games with children..."

Adebayor spent three and half years with the Gunners, first arriving in 2006.