Robin van Persie has warned Chelsea and Manchester United not to underestimate Arsenal in this season's title race. The Gunners have lost a host of experienced big names - Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, Gilberto Silva and Jens Lehmann - but Van Persie claims Arsene Wenger's side have the squad and the desire to sustain a challenge for the Premier League.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and when the Dutch forward was asked if Chelsea, United and Liverpool should be worried about the Gunners this season, he said: "I think so, yes. I think any of the top four can win the title. I am not going to say we are going to win it, because you never know - they do not know, we do not know either.

"I hope we can do it. I am committed to winning it, and if you look around, so is everyone here. Arsenal have to win something every year, that is our aim. If it is not happening, then everyone is really disappointed.

"I want to win as much as possible. Players leaving is part of football, those things happen. Flamini was a free agent, so he could make this decision. Alex went, but this is football and has been happening for years.

"Of course, I wanted everyone to stay, but this is not how life is."

Given the upheaval at the club, it is even more understandable that Van Persie welcomed Emmanuel

Adebayor's decision to snub a move to AC

Milan and sign a new contract at the

Emirates.

The pair started together in yesterday's

1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup - Adebayor scoring the winner from the penalty spot after Van Persie was fouled by Michel Salgado - and there were signs they could form a deadly partnership in attack.

"Yesterday we showed that Ade and I have a few nice combinations together," said the 24-year-old Dutchman.

"That is really important for two strikers, you always have to work together, you always have to look for each other.

"I did not know whether he would be staying. I was on holiday and only got some bits and pieces of it from the newspapers.

"It is a good sign that he will be staying, because it took him a while [to agree a new deal]. I am happy that he has committed his future to Arsenal." Van Persie made just 15 Premier League appearances last season in an injury-ravaged campaign but played 66 minutes yesterday and insists his fitness problems are a thing of the past.

He said: "I am getting better. Taking steps every day and am really happy with how it is going. My target is to be as fit as possible after a month, because the season is long. I learned a lot in the last two years, because I have been injured so much.

"I hope this season will not be so unlucky with injuries. I just do not want to think about that, negative stuff. If you think positive, you get positive."