Arsenal's Adebayor fit for Middlesbrough trip

LONDON COLNEY, England, Feb 2 (Reuters) Arsenal's Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor has shrugged off a niggling knee injury and will be fit to face Middlesbrough in the Premier League tomorrow, manager Arsene Wenger said.

Adebayor injured his right knee during Arsenal's League Cup semi-final win over Tottenham on Wednesday but the injury was not as bad as first thought, Wenger told reporters today.

Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue will miss the trip to Middlesbrough with an ankle injury while French midfielder Abou Diaby, who recently returned after nine months out of the game, has a knee problem he picked up against Tottenham.

The pair join Dutch forward Robin Van Persie, French defender William Gallas and midfielders Freddie Ljungberg, Alexander Hleb and Julio Baptista on the sidelines.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is expected to return after being rested for the last three games and Swiss defender Johann Djourou is also fit to return after a hamstring injury.

REUTERS PDM VV2252