E-Paper
‘Arsenal didn't replace greats’
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure said he left Arsenal because of the team's failure to replace their best players. “When you look at Arsenal you see all the great players have left and are now in the past,” Toure said on Sunday.
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure said he left Arsenal because of the team's failure to replace their best players. “When you look at Arsenal you see all the great players have left and are now in the past,” Toure said on Sunday.
“Players like (Thierry) Henry, (Patrick) Vieira and (Ray) Parlour brought success to Arsenal and I believed it was right at this stage of my career to also move on.”
The 28-year-old, who completed a 14 million pound ($23.16 million) move to City on Wednesday, was the last member of Arsenal's 2004 title-winning squad.
“When we were winning the league the spirit was fantastic, we were like a band of brothers,” Toure said.
Since that title triumph Arsenal have only won the FA Cup in 2005 and fans have also seen key players such as Robert Pires, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva and Sol Campbell leave.
