Jeremie Aliadiere may have helped Middlesbrough derail Arsenal's Premier League title bid - but he hopes the Gunners go on and win the title.Aliadiere, 24, spent his formative years with Arsenal - having been schooled at the famous Clairefontaine academy in France.

But the young striker never really made the grade with the Gunners - injury hampering his progress and leading to loan spells with Celtic, West Ham and Wolves.

Eventually, Aliadiere decided to try to further his career elsewhere and joined Boro in a permanent move for an initial £2million last summer.

The striker - just back from a controversial ban extended ban for 'slapping' Javier Mascherano - was on target against his old team-mates in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Until just four minutes from time, when Kolo Toure equalised, it seemed as if his goal would inflict a potentially fatal blow to the faltering Gunners.

Despite his side now having dropped eight points in the last four games, which have all been draws, as Manchester United returned to the top of the table, manager Arsene Wenger remains confident Arsenal have both the fight and the quality needed to sustain their title bid.

Aliadiere hopes his former colleagues can go on and do just that.

"Sometimes you get a bad run, but they need to get over it. They need a good result to get their confidence back. I really hope they go and win it," he said.

"I was here nine years, and you can't just forget that.

"It is still my club, even though I didn't play as much as I wanted to.

"I always look for their result and I still support them. It's nice to come back here, and very special to get a goal."

For Boro - who finished the match with 10 men following the dismissal of substitute Mido for a high challenge on full-back Gael Clichy which left the Arsenal defender with a cut head - it was all about restoring some pride following their shock FA Cup exit to Cardiff.

After securing another valuable point in midweek against top-six hopefuls Aston Villa, manager Gareth Southgate believes his men have provided the perfect response.

Aliadiere, though, knows how difficult it can be to stop Arsenal from tearing you apart.

"You can't stop them. They have great players, and you have to be really strong at the back - the midfield has to drop back," he said.

"If you don't leave them space in the midfield they will play - so it is easier to make them play wide and get crosses in because they are easier to defend.

"If you let them play through you, they are going to kill you. That was the plan, to be tight at the back."

The French striker added: "We kept Tuncay and me up front and try to catch them on the break with runs behind, so we tried to cause them problems.

"We defended most of the game, but we have been doing that well and we deserved this."

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