Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere is ready to prove his worth at former club Arsenal today.

The 24-year-old, who made just seven starts in his eight years working under Arsene Wenger, said: "I left Arsenal to be part of the starting XI and playing every week. It is great for me and I've never been so happy.

"Results have been up and down and we have got to improve but I just love playing. When you are not playing at Arsenal you're always waiting for your turn.

"I just keep working hard but my confidence went a bit because I wasn't playing enough.

"Training was great and Arsene Wenger always believed in me but when you get in new players you have to make a decision.

"He had Jose Reyes, Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp so it's difficult to get through that list of players into the first team.

"I don't regret my time there at all because I played and trained with those players and I always wanted to play for Arsenal. It was only a positive for me being at Arsenal but that's over now."