Adebayor dreaming of 'miracle' as he still eyes title

Even if Arsene Wenger's side - who last night moved within four points of leaders Manchester and Chelsea - fail in a mission that still looks impossible, the striker warned that last night's 6-2 destruction of Derby is a statement of intent for next season.

Adebayor claimed a second-half treble - his second of the campaign against Paul Jewell's relegated team - after replacing injured Robin van Persie at the interval.

He said: "The title race is not over. I am praying for a miracle now, but miracles do happen.

"We have put pressure on the top two and it is not too late for something amazing to happen. Obviously we have to hope that Chelsea and United make mistakes at the weekend but I can promise we will not make any."

United face West Ham on Saturday and then Wigan in their final game, while Chelsea have to travel to Newcastle on Bank Holiday Monday and then play Bolton at home. Arsenal need both to slip up and then beat Everton at home and Sunderland away if the miracle is going to happen.

Adebayor said: "We intend to make sure we win our next game and pray we can get even closer.

"We showed with our win we have character because it might have been easy just to look at the table and give up on trying to be champions.

"But that is not who we are. What was also important is that we sent out a message to our rivals that despite all the disappointments we have had in the past couple of months we are sticking together and showing that we are getting better and better. This season we may end up with nothing but it will not look the same this time next year." The striker's ambitions are matched by Lukasz Fabianski, who is aiming to be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper next season.

The Pole was highly impressive at Pride Park and, with Jens Lehmann likely to leave Emirates Stadium in the summer, he will be battling Manuel Almunia for the No1 jersey.

Fabianski said: "I am not here just to be the second goalkeeper, I want to be the main goalkeeper. Manuel and Jens are fine goalkeepers and we all get on well but I will be fighting to be ahead of them."

Meanwhile, Wenger expects to know by the end of the week whether Mathieu Flamini will be playing for Arsenal next season.

The midfielder has attracted the attention of several big European clubs. "I'm waiting for him to come back to me and tell me whether he's going," said the Arsenal manager.