Kolo Touré

Profile

It's hard to believe that Kolo Touré is now the longest-serving member of the Arsenal first team. When an unknown utility midfielder arrived for the paltry sum of £150,000 from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, there are not many who can claim to have predicted that we'd managed to find the player who would go on to become such a stalwart of the Arsenal backline.

But, such is the talent of Arsène Wenger for trawling footballs backwaters, and after season after season of almost robotic consistency and success, it is hardly surprising that Kolo Touré has become such a fan favourite.

Perhaps not the most vocal of players, Touré shows more than enough heart and soul in his gutsy style of play coupling fearless sliding tackling with lightning fast reactions to provide the Arsenal goal with an almost impenetrable shield. Kolo's one weakness has always been the more tactical side of the game, despite his immense physical gifts, and he will have been disappointed with his form once returning from the 2007/08 African Nations Cup, raising suggestions that the sheer volume of games he's played has finally taken it's toll.

Hopefully, he will approach the new season fired up to re-establish himself as one of the most feared defenders in the Premier League.

Touré left the club in July 2009 to join Manchester City.

Pictures

Bio

Full Name

Kolo Touré

Position

Central Defender

Born

March 19, 1981

Country

IVORY COAST

Height

183 cm

Weight

76 kg