Toure compares Man City to all-conquering Arsenal

Kolo Toure has drawn comparisons between his table-topping Manchester City side and Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ of the 2003/04 season.

City sit two points ahead of rivals Manchester United in the English Premier League and remain favourites to take the title for the first time since 1968.

Toure believes City’s capability to win games without their strongest players is an attribute that can help them win the championship come the end of the campaign, just like the Gunners side he was a part of eight years ago.

“The quality is the same because we had 24 great players at Arsenal and here is the same, we also have 24 great players. Here you can change any player,” Toure said.

“David Silva didn’t play (against Bolton), but we still won the game. (Sergio) Aguero didn’t play, but we still won the game.”

“In our time at Arsenal it was like this. Dennis Bergkamp was on the bench, Kanu was on the bench, but we still managed to win the games.”

“That’s really important when you have a big squad like that, that you can change, give some players a rest and this can be really helpful come the end of the season.”

The Ivory Coast centre-back is hoping to earn a Premier League winners’ medal to help make up for the fact he missed City’s FA Cup success last season because he was serving a six month ban for failing a drugs test.

“Yes, of course (it would ease the disappointment),” he said. “The past is the past. We all struggle in life at a certain point. I think what happened made me a better person, a stronger person.”

“I just realised how important that time is when you are able to play on the pitch, even for five or 10 minutes.”

“I’m just giving 100 percent now every time I contribute to the team and showing as much quality as I have, to try to help the team to win the title.”

“The situation is very different for me now. My ban started on the 3 March. I’m very happy now. I was really angry last time, but life is like that – there are hard times and good times and when the good times come you’ve just got to enjoy it.”