Every good striker needs a good partner and in Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor thinks that he may have found one. The growing empathy between the Arsenal pair could not have been greater illustrated than during the 4-0 Champions League victory over Porto at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.

It was not only Adebayor waiting patiently on the byline to set up Van Persie for the first goal; it was not only Van Persie setting up Adebayor for the second goal with a nicely flighted corner. They combined well throughout, complementing each other with evasive movement off the ball and a series of precise passes until the Dutchman was substituted after 64 minutes, by which time Arsenal were 3-0 up.

With Van Persie apparently fit at last after a succession of injuries over the past two seasons, Adebayor is optimistic of an increasingly fruitful partnership. “I'm very happy because Robin is looking fit and scoring a lot of good goals,” the Togo striker said. “We are enjoying playing together up front. I'm using him and he's using me as well.

“We have a great partnership. In our heads we have the same ambition, which is to help this team win something. He's here for that, I'm here for that, so I think we can do something great. We're trying to create a relationship and I think [against Porto] we have shown quite well that we can do something together. Everyone is pleased.

“Of course, there is more to come. He's just back [from injury] and we've only had five or six games together. Hopefully, as we go game to game, we will get to know each other better and learn how each other plays better. If Robin is fit for the whole season, we have a chance to do something special, that's for sure.”

When selected by Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, the Dutch-Togolese combination has reaped dividends, with 19 goals in their 20 matches together. It is a pairing that is also developing off the pitch.

“Yes, we are quite good friends,” Adebayor said. “He's a good guy - not like my best friend ever, but sometimes we go to restaurants together. He has a contract with the same sponsor as me, so sometimes we do the publicity for them together. Three days ago we did an advert together, which was good fun.

“As players, we talk about how we are going to find a solution. You always have to discuss what you have done well and what you have done badly. Those are the things that we will start on to see how we can improve for Saturday's game against Sunderland.

“I don't have a personal target, my target is to win the championship with this club. I love this club and they have given me a lot. I want to win a trophy to thank all the fans and everyone for getting me to where I am today.”