Wenger on Toure: We have too many defenders

Manager Arsène Wenger has more or less confirmed that defender Kolo Touré can leave the club if he chooses to, as the club have too many centre-backs on its books.

Touré is a transfer target for Manchester City and to be honest with the arrival of Thomas Vermaelen it did seem that Touré's days at the club were numbered.

However, with Philippe Senderos also told that he can leave, is Wenger getting rid of one defender too many, especially as Emmanuel Eboue is also a target for Italian club Fiorentina?

Wenger said: "We'll see what's happening in the next 24 hours ... we have many centre-backs, seven centre-backs and I'm in a position where we have to play some in midfield... but of course Kolo is a very good player - we'll see what happens in the next 24 hours.

"At the moment I'm more focused to get everybody fit for the start of the season.

"We are looking for opportunities as well, but at the moment we still have some pre-season games to see what we really need, and when the time has come we will do something ... I wouldn't like to set any time on that."

Any chance of flogging off Mikael Silvestre as well, by any chance? I'd prefer we got rid of him rather than Touré!

User Comments

Moiz

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 01:37 PM - Reply

Dont address Arsenal by we you are not elligible to be an arsenal Fan we are going to win next season have faith in weger

dan

Posted on 29 Jul, 2009 at 09:15 PM - Reply

Arsenal are fucked next season. Like ian wright said, they are clearly happy to try and keep challenging for a fourth place in the league.

it is ridiculous that we are selling off all our best players, especially to the team that is most likely to take 4th place from us next year.

wenger is not going to buy in any quality replacements because he is deluded in thinking that he can rely on the kids.yes they are good, but not 4th place in the league good!!

Arsenals season is over before it has begun

Thank god for the ladies team

Terry

Posted on 29 Jul, 2009 at 09:48 AM - Reply

I think wenger is losing the plot and thinking too hard about making money for the fat cat board members... whats the point in polishing these players and selling them... he boast about all his polishing talent into superstars then he goes and sells these superstars before we can build a strong enough team of them or have a replacement that will step in and improve the team we are slowly degenerating into a mid table team and it kills me to admitt it... im not sure if its wenger or the fat cat chairmen behind the scenes but since david dean gone i have lost alot of faith in arsenal... they are becoming out dated with their stone age transfer policy...

Vermaelen who im sure is a good player wont fill in for toure who is the best defender at arsenal and maybe in the league in my opinion...

KEIVAN

Posted on 29 Jul, 2009 at 07:53 AM - Reply

DEAR TOURE, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE THE CLUB,ARSENAL IS YOUR HOME. WE CANN'T FORGET YOUR TRIES FOR OUR CLUB.STAY WITH US WE LOVE YOU.

ramz

Posted on 29 Jul, 2009 at 06:18 AM - Reply

i think we should sell wenger

Royal Eruagbere

Posted on 28 Jul, 2009 at 11:52 PM - Reply

This is not a good move but if he make this sales then he must go for a better defensive midfield player, if not it will spell doom for us at the back.

Majik

Posted on 28 Jul, 2009 at 10:15 PM - Reply

I dont care how many defenders we have, in Arsenal's case it's how many QUALITY defenders are available!!! If Toure goes Gallas and I imagine Vermaelen would be first choice. Vermaelan is unproven and will no doubt require time to settle in. Come on Mr. Wenger, BUY BUY BUY!!!

mrniceguy_4u

Posted on 28 Jul, 2009 at 05:58 PM - Reply

pls not kolo toure .... galas should go coz he is soooo sloppy n silvestre always playing back pass .. pls lets galas n silvestre go not toure...

terffy

Posted on 28 Jul, 2009 at 03:39 PM - Reply

Can someone please tell me what is happening at Arsenal?How can Wenger say we have 7 Central defenders.Is it the aged Sylvestre,injury prone Gallas,gutless Senderos,experience lacking Djourou, premiership greenhorn Vermalen?.How do you sell Toure and rely on these set of players?To make matters worse there is no capable defensive midfielder to cover them up.What is hapening to Wenger and the board.I now agree that we are in to sell players and make money and not build to win trophies.I agree with Dein,Usmanov.

Michael

Posted on 28 Jul, 2009 at 02:36 PM - Reply

I don't know what is going on here, but we definitely need to keep Toure'.

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