City boss Hughes tells Arsenal to toughen up

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has taunted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by claiming the Gunners aren’t tough enough to end their trophy drought.

Hughes’s team have made an impressive start to the season after a massive spending spree that included signing Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure from Arsenal.

Adebayor and Toure will face their former team on Saturday as Arsenal visit Eastlands for the weekend’s most intriguing Premier League fixture.

Wenger, whose side have gone four years without silverware, once accused Hughes of rearing a side that “had an appetite for violence” when the Welshman was boss at Blackburn.

Yet City have been widely tipped to replace Arsenal in the top four this season and Hughes is convinced that, unlike the north Londoners, his side have the right combination of steel and skill.

“Arsene has a fantastic philosophy. Everybody in football appreciates it. We are trying to reach the heights he has reached,” Hughes said.

“I know we have the capability to play football as expansive and creative as Arsenal. But you can’t be successful if you just have that kind of player.

“Last season was an illustration. At times we played fantastic flowing, open football. But against certain other types of teams we could not compete.

“I have done OK against Arsene’s teams in the past. I know what they enjoy and what they don’t. We will try and exploit that.”

City paid a total of 40 million pounds (48 million euros) to land Adebayor and Toure in the close-season and Hughes believes the deals underlined his club’s increased profile and status.

“They are looking forward to this game with relish,” Hughes added. “They are both really enjoying being a big part of what is happening here.

“There is a lot of focus on us and they want to show what they are capable of.

“They have a huge amount of respect for Arsenal and were a big part of their success there.

“Now they want to show even when you leave one of the top four it is not a downward step when you come to a club like Manchester City.”