• Premier League

City as strong as vintage Gunners - Kolo Toure

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 6, 2012
Toure sees parallels between Man City and the finest Arsenal sides he played in under Arsene Wenger © Getty Images
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Kolo Toure believes that Manchester City's squad is now as strong as the Arsenal side that consistently challenged for and won titles.

Toure, who made his first appearance for City in two months at the weekend since playing at the African Nations Cup, won the Premier League and two FA Cups during his seven-year spell with Arsenal, as well as finishing runners-up in the league twice, reaching the final of the Champions League in 2006 and League Cup final in 2007.

The Ivorian believes strength in depth is vital to winning championships, and has proved crucial as City have stayed two points in front of Manchester United as the title race enters the final straight.

"The quality is the same, because we had 24 great players at Arsenal and here is the same," Toure told the Daily Mirror. "We also have 24 great players. Here you can change any player. David Silva didn't play against Bolton, but we still won the game. Aguero didn't play, but we still won.

"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.

"Mentally we just need to focus on our game and play every game like it's a final. It's going to get tougher and tougher, because it will get more intense, but we just need to keep our heads and stay cool. It's a mental test as much as a physical one, because you feel the pressure from the other teams and you want to deliver.

"But at the same time you need to keep calm and play as well as you usually do. It's always difficult when you're in front because the other team puts pressure on you. But at the same time it's great to be two points in front of United because that puts pressure on them as well."

Toure missed Machester City's FA Cup triumph last season while serving a six-month ban for failing a drugs test and has made only nine Premier League appearances since his return in September, but he is now content at the club.

"My ban started on March 3 last year but I'm very happy today," said Toure. "I was really angry this time last year, 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.

"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 now realise how important the time is when you're able to play on the pitch, even for just five or 10 minutes.

"I just want to contribute to the team and show as much quality as I can to try to help the team to win the title."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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