Ade returned to the Emirates for the first time since his controversial departure last summer. As expected, the Togolese menace was jeered at by a cross section of Arsenal spectators who have deliberately refused to let bygones be bygones.
The Togo international was fined and banned by the FA, for his antics last year in the reverse fixture which the Citizens won by 4-2.
Although the tackle by Van Persie on Adebayor seemed premeditated, the Gunner denied he was seeking revenge but instead referred to it as a routine tackle: "There was nothing in it," he declared.
"In football you make tackles that was one of them."
Van Persie is relishing the experience of playing again for Arsenal, after missing a large chunk of the season due to an injury: "I'm so pleased to be back. The plan was to play for 60 or 70 minutes but everything felt good so I played on," the 27-year-old concluded.
