Arsenal lost too many leaders, says Toure

MANCHESTER CITY’S latest recruit Kolo Toure believes he was right to swap the Emirates for Eastlands because Arsenal have failed to replace too many big names.

The Ivorian, the last remaining member of their 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’ squad, believes the failure to replace a host of star players has made the club a less attractive proposition than Mark Hughes’ City.

The 28-year-old said: “I came to Man City because when you look at Arsenal you see all the great players have left the club and are now in the past.

“Look at what has happened there. Thierry Henry has gone, Patrick Vieira has gone, Ray Parlour has gone. These were the players that brought success to Arsenal and I believed it was right at this stage of my career to also move on.

“We lost too many leaders at Arsenal. When we were winning the league title the spirit was fantastic, we were like a band of brothers.”

Toure also defended City’s spending policy, which has seen them criticised in some quarters for distorting the market.

“The best teams are at the top only because they have the best players and to get those players you have to spend a lot of money,” he said.

“You can’t be successful in football without money. This is the football business. City have a project to build a big team and so it is natural it is going to cost money.”

Last night Gunners boss Arsene Wenger refused to be drawn on Toure’s comments.

“Let’s win the games and not talk too much,” said the Arsenal manager. “You want me absolutely to say what I do not want to say, and I will not say it.”