Robin van Persie has claimed Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor deliberately injured him during Arsenal's 4-2 defeat at Eastlands. In a statement, Van Persie said he was "sad and disappointed" by Adebayor's "mindless and malicious stamp on me". The Dutchman added: "He set out to hurt me today. I do feel lucky that I have not received a greater injury." Adebayor caught Van Persie in the face with his right boot but says it was unintentional and claims he apologised. "I was trying to kick the ball," Adebayor told Sky Sports. "I see him tackling and I don't have time to take my feet back because I'm trying to kick the ball. "My feet touch his head. I feel sorry for him and even straight away, and at the end of the game, I said sorry." However, Van Persie, 26, is adamant that the contact was deliberate. "I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made," he said in a statement published on the Arsenal website. "He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. "The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love." He continued: "We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical. I, too, have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. "I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love. "He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans. "We do not hide from the disappointment of losing the match but I need to speak out about his behaviour." Most of the immediate talk after the game had centred on Adebayor's baiting of Arsenal fans. After finding the net with 10 minutes to go, the Togo international, 25, ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the visiting fans, evoking a furious reaction. "The emotion took over me," admitted an apologetic Adebayor, who cost City £25m in the summer. "Now I just have to say sorry." Adebayor escaped punishment following the Van Persie incident, although he was booked for his inflammatory goal celebration. But the Football Association may decide to act once it has reviewed television footage. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he wanted to see a replay before deciding whether there was any intent on Adebayor's behalf. "I didn't really see what happened," said the Frenchman. "I have to see it again to see if it was on purpose or not. I can't say anything at the moment." City boss Mark Hughes also said he had not seen the incident but admitted he would be disappointed if it was allowed to overshadow a thrilling victory, in which five goals were scored in an amazing half-hour blitz in the second half. "We are hopeful that the game itself will be the shining light rather than any one incident," said Hughes. "We do not want it to cast a shadow on an outstanding game, but we will have to see what happens." City were leading through Manuel Almunia's bizarre own-goal when Van Persie equalised. Craig Bellamy then put the home side in front before Adebayor got his name on the scoresheet and embarked on his ill-judged celebrations. "When I score a goal, for two or three seconds I can't control myself," he said. "To be honest, I'm very sorry for all this. "Before the game, people have been saying and writing things. The emotions took over. People who love me and know me know how I behave." It later emerged that a match steward needed hospital treatment after being hit by a flying object in the wake of Adebayor's goal celebration. A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "The steward received a head injury from a flying object which appeared to have been thrown from the direction of the away end. "We were told the steward was unconscious for a few seconds before being taken to hospital and later discharged." The spokesman, who could not confirm whether the steward was male or female, said police would investigate the assault. Meanwhile, Hughes preferred to concentrate on the positives rather than castigate Adebayor for his celebration. "Emmanuel was outstanding today," said the City boss. "Amid some high quality goals, perhaps the best piece of skill was his run down the byline to set up Shaun Wright-Phillips for the chance he missed. "If that had gone in, it would have been goal of the season. He is an outstanding talent and the best in the world at what he does."