Toure saves Gunners’ transfer cash

SOL CAMPBELL has praised Kolo Toure as he has saved Arsenal from the need to enter the January transfer market for a top-class defender.

Arsene Wenger invested £2 million on his defence last summer, with Jens Lehmann arriving as David Seaman’s successor, while youngsters Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos were also recruited. Left-back Clichy has certainly shown his potential over the past three games during Ashley Cole’s suspension, even though Senderos has been plagued by injury ever since his arrival at Highbury.

Goalkeeper Lehmann, meanwhile, has been hailed by Wenger as one of the best purchases of the past year. Many observers insisted the Arsenal boss’ main priority last summer should have been an experienced centre-back to partner Campbell after conceding 42 Premiership goals in their failed title bid.

After all, Pascal Cygan’s early promise had seemingly faded, while Martin Keown was nearing the end of his top-fight career and Matthew Upson had, perhaps rashly, been sold to Birmingham.

Arsenal’s defence were slightly inconsistent in the first few months of this campaign, conceding three goals against Inter Milan and two against Newcastle. However, 22-year-old Toure has grown in stature as the season has progressed as he has made the transition from a utility performer to an accomplished central defender.

Campbell declared: “Kolo has been fantastic. He’s come in and proved to be worth his weight in gold really. He’s adapted well to the position and gone from strength to strength.

“Everybody looked at why we didn’t buy any players last summer but we’re happy at how things have gone.

“Kolo has come in and done fantastic, while Pascal has also done really well and it’s one less headache to worry about now.”

Cygan has started to prove himself all over again in the past month, with Lauren’s absence due to suspension and injury meaning that Toure has reverted to the right-back position.

Campbell added: “Pascal has done well when he’s come into the side, with Kolo moving to right-back.

“It’s good that people can come into the side and perform. Now Martin is back as well so the defence is in good hands and we are well covered.”

Wenger can, therefore, allow himself to look at strengthening other areas of his side, despite his reluctance to splash out on a major new signing unless the right player becomes available.

Aston Villa’s Juan Pablo Angel is the latest striker to be linked with Arsenal, although Wenger is keeping his cards close to his chest over his next transfer move. His immediate priority is the FA Cup third round at Leeds this weekend, when he must decide whether Lauren should return Toure would relish the chance to return to his centre-back role, even though he has been a consistent performer as a temporary right-back.

That is nevertheless a measure of the success of Wenger’s decision to attempt to convert the Ivory Coast international from a utility player into a defender this season.

Wenger’s first experiment came in the Community Shield, when he pitted Toure against Ruud van Nistelrooy, and the self-confessed ‘gamble’ has since paid off. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal have enough strength in depth in defence, especially of a quality sufficient to succeed in Europe.

However, Toure, whose country are not taking part in the African Nations’ Cup finals, is clearly learning as the season progresses. “It’s very good for me to play alongside experienced players like Martin Keown and Sol Campbell. They are both really good players and have helped me a lot.”

Keown added: “Kolo has all the tools to be a top player. It’s a joy to play with someone who wants to ask questions and wants to learn.”