Adebayor has change of heart on Arsenal future

Emmanuel Adebayor is happy to remain part of the Arsenal 'family' and insists the Gunners can achieve something special next season.

The 24-year-old, who smashed 30 goals last season, had been sending out mixed messages over his future during the summer, with AC Milan and Barcelona both showing more than a passing interest in the £35million-rated striker.

However, Adebayor - plucked from Monaco in January 2006 - last night dismissed all the rumours as pure conjecture and confirmed he would be staying with the Gunners, having agreed to sign a new contract extension.

Adebayor, though, is not resting on his laurels.

'When I was on holiday I never went on to the internet, I never read the newspapers, so to be honest I was with my family so my phone was off, so I didn't know what was happening,' he said.

'When I came back I realised what was happening - but, you know, the thing has happened already so now the most important thing is behind me and I will show everyone this club has given me a lot of things.

'Now I can tell everyone that yes, I will sign a contract.

'I have four more years' contract. I am very happy that we have found a solution to stay here and my heart is with Arsenal.

'All I have to do is play my football and I know the fans always love me, so there is no reason to not love me anymore because I am still here.

'Now we have to work hard together as a family and to deliver better than what we did last season.'

Adebayor - who is expected to feature for Arsenal against Juventus in the Emirates Cup this afternoon - has his sights set high.

He added: 'What we hope to achieve is the title and the Champions League.

'It is true we are young - but we know that if we put our hearts together and we work as a family we can achieve something.'

The move will have come as welcome news to manager Arsene Wenger, who certainly could have done without another player leaving the club after seeing Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto depart.

Yet despite adding 21-year-old France playmaker Samir Nasri, Welsh teenager Aaron Ramsey and Portugal Under-21 midfielder Amaury Bischoff, the Arsenal manager concedes he would prefer to bring in another 'experienced' body before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.

However, whether or not that will be Aston Villa's unsettled captain Gareth Barry - rated at £18million and also a summer-long target for Liverpool - remains to be seen, with the midlands club now insisting he is staying put.

'I don't think that the best tactic is to come out with names,' said Wenger, when asked if he was set to make an 11th-hour swoop for Barry.

'If we can do one more signing we will do, it but it will need to be quality.'

Am I the only one who believes he's out the door ASAP?