Arsenal ready to rest striker Adebayor

London: Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor could be rested for Saturday's Premier League game at Bolton Wanderers after leading the line all season, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.

Adebayor has shouldered the scoring burden after injuries to Dutchman Robin van Persie and Croat Eduardo da Silva, along with the departure last year of Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

The Togo forward has met expectations by grabbing 23 goals but has netted only once in his last eight games and Arsenal have dropped six points behind leaders Manchester United. All the latest English Premier League and football news

"I believe he has given a lot this year and that he would need a little breather, maybe," Wenger told reporters. "He has played a lot on his own up front and has had to fight very hard."

"At the moment, to refresh him a bit would do him some good.

"I have (Nicklas) Bendtner there, I have Van Persie coming back. But he (Adebayor) is an important player in our squad.

"He did not score recently because as a team we've made fewer chances and also physically he was a bit jaded because he has played in nearly every game since the start of the season."