Emmanuel Adebayor today insisted his future lies with Arsenal and claims the current crop at Emirates Stadium are the best he has ever seen.

The Togo striker seemed willing to join AC Milan in the summer before agreeing a new four-year contract with the Gunners.

And as next month's transfer window fast approaches, the 24-year-old reiterated his commitment to the club he joined in January 2006 from Monaco.

He said: "Why did I stay? Arsenal has always been my priority, so I am at the club I want.

"I am happy we could find agreement. I have prolonged my contract until 2012.

"I have become a new player at Arsenal and can still improve."

Arsenal reached the last 16 of the Champions League despite losing 2-0 in Porto on Wednesday and now return to domestic matters with a tricky Premier League encounter at Middlesbrough tomorrow lunchtime.

The Gunners have already lost five League matches this season as they struggle to find consistency in a bid to end a trophy drought that dates back to their 2005 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United. Adebayor has never won a trophy with the club but he insists this season represents the best chance yet of them winning silverware.

"We have the best team since I joined the club," he added. "We just have to have more faith."

Arsenal have not won at the Riverside Stadium since 2005, with two defeats in their last three visits but Arsene Wenger is likely to be boosted by the return of as many as five players who missed the midweek trip to Portugal.

Gael Clichy (hamstring), captain Cesc Fabregas (knee), Robin van Persie (thigh), Adebayor (rested) and Bacary Sagna (flu) could all return tomorrow.

"Sagna, Clichy, Fabregas, Van Persie and Adebayor have a reasonable chance to come back," said manager Wenger.

"Perhaps less certain is Sagna but the others should be alright."

For Boro, record signing Afonso Alves finds himself under pressure to deliver having scored just three goals this season.

The Brazilian cost £12.7m from Heerenveen in January and assistant boss Malcolm Crosby said: "He has to get a couple of goals, and pretty quickly, if he is to come out of it."