His manager, Stephen Keshi, had this to say:
"He hasn't played in a long time and has spent the last week sorting out his contract with Arsenal. Just before the game I told him I was putting him in the team, and then he said he didn't want to play."
He apparently went on to call the player "a liar" and "an undisciplined player".
Meanwhile the player said "I am done with Togo for the Nations Cup and I'm heading home to visit my sick mother."
What the bloody hell have we taken on here? I sincerely hope we haven't blown this money on Nicolas Anelka Mark 2 - Let's hope not.
"He hasn't played in a long time and has spent the last week sorting out his contract with Arsenal. Just before the game I told him I was putting him in the team, and then he said he didn't want to play."
He apparently went on to call the player "a liar" and "an undisciplined player".
Meanwhile the player said "I am done with Togo for the Nations Cup and I'm heading home to visit my sick mother."
What the bloody hell have we taken on here? I sincerely hope we haven't blown this money on Nicolas Anelka Mark 2 - Let's hope not.