Toure wants family double act at Arsenal

ARSENAL defender Kolo Toure has urged manager Arsene Wenger to finally make a summer signing – his little brother Yaya.

Toure junior who is registered with Belgian side KSK Beveren is on trial with the Gunners on their pre-season tour of Austria.

"I think he is a better player than me any way and could become a great player for Arsenal," said Kolo Toure, who joined Arsenal in February 2002 from ASEC Abidjan.

"He needs a little more time to prove himself but Yaya has a lot of natural talent and confidence in his ability.

"He is finding the pace a little hard to live with at the moment because the pre-season work in Belgium where he has been playing is nothing like as tough as it is with an English Premier League club," Toure said.

Wenger played both Toure brothers in the same Arsenal side which drew 0-0 with non-League Barnet in a friendly at Underhill last Saturday.

The Toure boys were in action again when Arsenal recovered from a 2-0 deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw in their Austrian tour opener against fourth division Ritzing and they should also feature against FC Austria Vienna on tomorrow.

French defender Gael Clichy, 17, is also on trial with Arsenal in Austria and also played in the match against Ritzing.

Nigel Winterburn last night revealed that the death of his father in April had a part to play in his decision to retire.

The 39-year-old has decided to quit after 17 years of top-flight football with Wimbledon, Arsenal and West Ham and is hoping to become involved in the media.

His best years were undoubtedly spent at Highbury, where he was part of the famously stingy Arsenal back four which claimed league titles in 1989, 1991 and 1998 and a host of cup successes.