Exclusive: Kolo Toure Trusts Arteta to Pave the Way for Arsenal to Lift EPL Trophy
Former Arsenal star, Kolo Toure, believes Arteta has what it takes to guide Arsenal to the English Premier League trophy this season.
Kolo Toure believes Mikel Arteta could be the man to guide Arsenal to their first English Premier League (EPL) title in two decades this season.
Former Gunners’ ace Toure starred in the famous “Invincibles” side which went the entire season unbeaten when the club last won the Premier League in 2004.
And it’s little surprise Toure would love to see his former club taste long-overdue success.
The Importance of Learning From the Best in the Business
Arsenal are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League summit, ahead of second-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
A strong finish to the season after the current international break could see the Gunners taste sweet success.
“It’s great to [see] Arsenal doing well under a young manager,” said Toure. “I think what he’s [Mikel] doing is brilliant. He’s [Arteta] an unbelievable manager and someone who has learned his trade, which is what I have been doing under Brendan Rodgers,” explains Toure. “He’s learnt from Pep Guardiola, which is incredible.”
“I know he’s a great guy, very intense, but we like that as a footballer. And, by the way, he was a great footballer as well,” added Toure.
“As a young coach, it’s really important to learn from your coaches and managers. He’s done that and that’s something I’ve always tried to do. What he’s doing at Arsenal this season is brilliant.”
As a footballer, even though you’ve won a lot in your career – and played with some amazing winners – you’ve got to work hard to achieve success.
Kolo Toure
Striving to Replicate Success
Two-time Premier League winner Toure starred alongside fellow center-back Sol Campbell in the legendary Arsenal side which won a staggering 26 games and drew 12 in their historic unbeaten season.
That remarkable run helped the Gunners make it a hat-trick of Premier League crowns and cemented Arsene Wegner as the club’s most successful manager.
And 41-year-old Toure, who had a brief spell managing Wigan Athletic in the English Championship, wants to make sure he benefits from the “incredible” knowledge he gained from playing under the respected Frenchman as he looks to return to management.
“Arsene’s man-management was brilliant, just brilliant,” reflected Toure. “He knows how to trust young players. He’s a great communicator, a very clever and intelligent man who I learned so much from.”
“I think my football career in the UK was fantastic, I loved playing in England. I never wanted to move I enjoyed it that much,” recalls Toure. “It was a priceless experience and it all started at Arsenal. Playing in that Invincibles team was very special.”
“I’ve been lucky to have learnt from top managers like Robert Mancini and Mark Hughes as both of them are great guys,” he added.
Image Credits: @theafcshirts (X.com)
Well-Equipped to Lead the Way as Manager
Toure welcomes a return to dugout and the chance to follow in the footsteps of former “Invincibles” stars Campbell, Thiery Henry, and Patrick Viera, who all became managers with varying degrees of success.
“I wanted to learn all the skills a manager needs to make sure he can implement the best qualities possible to give to his players and what he wants,” added Toure, an African Cup of Nations winner. “I’ve done that for five or six years and now I'm relishing the challenge of becoming a manager again.”
“It's about hard work and desire. This is my philosophy, it was as a player, and that will never change.”
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Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.