Aliadière revels in Boro's brand of Arsenal artistry

Middlesbrough's former Arsenal forward Jérémie Aliadière believes there is a familiar feel about his football on Teesside these days. The 25-year-old believes there is a touch of the Gunners style in the way Boro are approaching their football this season.

Their manager, Gareth Southgate, has placed the accent firmly on taking an adventurous approach in all games, just like Arsène Wenger's Arsenal, and, as a result, Aliadière feels very much at home. He said: "Obviously it's good for every attacking player at Arsenal because of the way in which they play the game.

"When I first came here last season, the manager told me that he wanted to try to play the same way. but we had a lot of injuries last year and it wasn't easy.

"This year it's been better and we are trying to play our football. It's great for me, because I like to attack, and if everybody stays fit I think we can go on and have a good season."

Aliadière, who arrived at Teesside as a striker, has been asked to play a wide role on the right side by Southgate this season.

Aliadière, who scored five goals in a more orthodox attacking role last season, said: "It's great to be a part of the team at the moment so I don't mind where the manager asks me to play.

"But I am happy to play on the right. I have said before that I feel I can do a job there for the team. It's a different kind of role because I have had to learn the job from a defensive point of view. But I feel that I have done well." Aliadière scored his first goal of the new campaign on Tuesday when netting Boro's third in their 5-1 home win against Yeovil Town in the second round of the Carling Cup.

The win helped Boro wipe away the memories of their last-minute defeat at Liverpool three days earlier.