Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor admits it would take "a miracle" for his side to win the Premier League title this year - but insists they will not finish empty-handed next season.

Arsene Wenger's men have given themselves a mathematical, if highly improbable, chance of overtaking Manchester United and Chelsea following their 6-2 win at bottom-club Derby on Monday night.

However, with just two games left, Arsenal face a four-point deficit and also an inferior goal-difference to leaders United.

For most of the season, it was the Gunners who set the pace, before their challenge fell apart following four straight draws and then defeat at Stamford Bridge, while also crashing out of the Champions League to Liverpool.

Adebayor came off the bench at Pride Park last night to net a second-half hat-trick - having also chalked up a treble against the outclassed Rams earlier in the campaign - which took his overall tally to 30.

While the 24-year-old accepts it would now take "something amazing" to see the Gunners come back to win the title at this late stage, the Arsenal striker maintains it will be a different story in 12 months' time.

"I am praying for a miracle now, but miracles do happen," Adebayor said.

"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."

Adebayor added: "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."

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